Eco-friendly dyeing of fabric using banana sap mordant and mahogany sawdust extract natural dye

Abstract

Synthetic dyes and mordants are widely used in the textile industry, contributing significantly to environmental degradation. While natural substances offer environmental advantages, their application processes are often not well-documented. This study explores the potential of banana sap mordant and mahogany sawdust extract natural dye as an eco-friendly dyeing approach, with an emphasis on ecological sustainability. The effectiveness of these natural substances was analyzed against conventional chemical and synthetic agents by examining the color strength, reflectance, and fastness properties of polyester fabric. The aqueous extraction of natural mordant and dye from locally sourced banana stems and mahogany sawdust, a form of bio-waste, resulted in improved yields (20% and 25%, respectively), highlighting both the efficiency of the process and a reduction in waste volume. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of identical peaks in the natural dye, indicating strong molecular bonding. Polyester fabric treated with the natural mordant demonstrated satisfactory color strength (Kubelka-Munk [K/S] value of 1.1) and reflectance (28), supporting these materials’ potential to mitigate the severe environmental impact associated with synthetic dye. In addition, the fabric displayed high rubbing and wash fastness ratings (4/5 and 5, respectively) as well as satisfactory bursting strength, indicating superior resistance to fading and adequate durability. Shade uniformity was verified through evenness, based on the Color Measurement Committee Delta E and K/S values across prominent areas of the test sample. All results were statistically significant (R²≥0.9).

Keywords

Natural dye / Natural mordant / Color fastness / Bursting strength / Kubelka-Munk value / Environmental sustainability

Funding

This study was funded by the Department of Textile Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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