Which of the following processes is used to clean sheared skin?

Scouring

The correct answer is option 2. Scouring.

Scouring is the process of cleaning sheared wool or skin to remove impurities such as grease, dirt, sweat, and other contaminants. This step is crucial in the processing of wool to prepare it for further manufacturing into textiles. While your question specifically mentions sheared skin, I assume you are referring to the cleaning of sheared wool from sheep.

Here's a brief explanation of the scouring process:

1. Shearing: The wool is first sheared from the sheep's fleece. This process involves removing the wool in one piece from the sheep's body.

2. Scouring: The sheared wool, also known as raw wool or fleece, contains natural oils (lanolin), dirt, sweat, and other impurities. Scouring is the process of thoroughly washing the wool to remove these impurities.

3. Cleaning Agents:  During scouring, the raw wool is typically washed with water and mild cleaning agents, such as detergents or soap, to break down and remove the grease (lanolin) and other substances attached to the fibers.

4. Temperature Control: The water used in scouring is often heated to facilitate the removal of grease and dirt. However, the temperature must be carefully controlled to avoid damaging the wool fibers.

5. Rinsing: After the initial cleaning, the wool is rinsed to remove the cleaning agents and any remaining impurities. This may involve multiple rinsing steps to ensure thorough cleaning.

6. Drying: Once the wool has been thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, it is dried to remove excess moisture. Proper drying is important to prevent issues such as mildew or molding.

Scouring is a critical step in wool processing as it not only cleans the wool but also prepares it for subsequent processing steps such as carding, spinning, and weaving. The quality of the scouring process can significantly impact the final quality of the wool and the resulting textile products.