Application of Ozone in Stripping of Cotton Fabric Dyed with Reactive Dyes

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the color stripping of cotton fabric dyed with four reactive dyes using ozone. An ozone color stripping process has been optimized in terms of pH, ozone dose, treatment time and dye concentration. Color stripping efficiency of the process is evaluated in light of the color properties including Lightness (L*), Lightness Difference (∆L*), and Color Difference (∆E*) in addition to strength properties, i.e., copper number and degree of polymerization as well as compared with a control method (conventional reductive color stripping method). The results demonstrate maximum color stripping at an ozone dose of 10 g/h, exposure time of 45 min, and pH maintained at 5. The Stripping Efficiency, however, decreases with increasing dye concentration from 0.5% to 4%, which implies that decolorization of dyed fabric with higher initial dye concentration requires higher ozone dose and/or longer exposure time. The strength of the ozone-stripped fabric sample is almost similar to that of control. The chemical oxygen demand of effluent generated by ozone stripping process is 97% lower than the effluent produced by the conventional stripping method. The Ozone Stripping Process hence proves to be environment-friendly as it consumes less water, energy, and chemicals.