Ecological dyeing of cellulosic fibers with less salt, less water consumption and less colour left in the effluent

Abstract

Dyeing cellulosic fibres with reactive dyes wastes great quantities of salt and water. The objective of this work is to dye cellulosic fibers using coloured nanoparticles (CNPs) as an alternative to dyeing with reactive dyes, without salt and with only a short washing-off procedure at the end of dyeing. Samples of cotton were dyed by exhaustion with CNPs at light to medium colours. Washfastness results are given. Complete Washing-off sequence after dyeing was not necessary for the red and yellow colours, only one rinsing. The blue colour needs some washing off since the fastness is lower than for the other colours even though soaping is not necessary, saving energy and time relative to dyeing with reactive dyes.