Sonicator dyeing of cotton fabric and chemical characterization of the colorant from Melastoma malabathricum

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the dyeing potentials of Melastoma malabathricum whose fruit pulp showed high dye contents. It is an abundantly available shrub in the north eastern forests of India.

Design/methodology/approach

Dye extraction was carried out by conventional heating and sonicator. The dyebility of the aqueous extract of melastoma was evaluated for dyeing cotton fabric by two methods – sonication and conventional heating. The purpose of using sonication was for betterment of dye uptake, improved dye adherence and good wash and light fastnesses.

Findings

The test results showed that choosing this dyeing method produced improved results. The superiority of sonicator dyeing over conventional dyeing in terms of enhanced resource productivity and as a result, reduced wastes, makes it the established best available technique in the natural dyeing industry. Use of sonicator shows marked enhancement for cotton dyed fabric. Typical bath liquor to fabric ratio for conventional dyeing varies from 20:1 to 15:1 and for sonicator dyeing from only 12:1 to 10:1 thereby reducing specific water and energy consumption by, respectively, 30 and 50 percent.

Research limitations/implications

Although natural dyeing has its limitations of fastness, we have tried to overcome this limitation by using sonicator.

Practical implications

The method developed for natural dyeing of cotton fabric using sonication in conjunction with metal mordanting has shown marked improvement.

Originality/value

The method developed for natural dyeing of cotton fabric using fruit pulp of Melastoma malabathricum under sonication in conjunction with metal mordanting using has shown marked improvement in terms of dye adherence and fastness properties and can thus be recommended for industrial application.

Citation

Vankar, P.S., Tiwari, V., Singh, L.W. and Potsangbam, L. (2009), "Sonicator dyeing of cotton fabric and chemical characterization of the colorant from Melastoma malabathricum", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 38-42. https://doi.org/10.1108/03699420910923562