Myriococcum thermophilum cellobiose dehydrogenase (MtCDH) was expressed in Pichia pastoris using the pPICZ alpha A expression vector under the control of methanol inducible AOX promoter. The purified recombinant MtCDH with a specific activity of 3.1 U mg(-1) was characterized to obtain kinetic constants for various carbohydrate substrates. Additionally, the Cl oxidation of the reducing ends of cellobiose, cellotetraose and maltotriose by MtCDH was verified by HPLC-MS. MtCDH was employed to oxidize several different cellulose-based materials by production of hydrogen peroxide. Based on the obtained results a one-pot enzymatic scouring/bleaching process for cotton fabrics was developed using pectinases as scouring agent and MtCDH to produce H2O2 for bleaching. An average increase in whiteness (Berger) Delta E of 26 and an average 95% increase in wettability were observed in all MtCDH treated fabrics. In addition, MtCDH oxidized typical colored cotton flavonoids (morin, rutin, isoquercitrin). (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.