Substantivity and Extraction of Eco - friendly Floral Dyes: Better Waste Management

This study attempts to provide an eco-friendly substitute for synthetic dyes from an unconventional but natural source. Colours obtained from nature have been part of our life for centuries. Today craftsmen in various parts of the world also use natural dyes in a limited way mainly because they are eco-friendly, non-toxic and have attractive shades. Though these dyes have been used for ages, there is limited scientific documentation on them. It is found that most flowers (especially corolla) contain colouring matters (e.g. anthocyanine and flavone) which may be in a free form or in combination with sugar (i.e. glycosidic). Most of the colouring matters present in flowers are soluble in hot water and is eco-friendly in nature. Thus, it can be applied to suitable substrates like textile fibres and paper. Natural dyes can be obtained from various plant parts, namely leaves, roots, bark, seeds, fruits and flowers. Synthetic dyes during manufacture and after use cause water pollution. Some synthetic dyes are very harmful and hazardous to health. Thus, in order to get an alternative source, substantivity of colouring matters obtained from flowers was tested on different natural fibres. Improvement of shades was achieved with fair to very good results using different eco-friendly chemicals. The results obtained show that natural dyes are almost as good as synthetic dyes.