Extraction and Visual Test for Colour Fastness of Eco- Friendly Dye from Natural Plant (Calotropis Procera)

Abstract

The study was on Extraction and Visual Test for Colour Fastness of Eco- Friendly Dye from Natural Plant (Calotropis Procera). The objectives of the study were the extraction of natural dye from Calotropis Procera plant; application of the extracted dyes on a fabric (white cotton); testing for color fastness of the dye on the fabric (cotton) using wash fastness; and testing for the color fastness of the dye on the fabric (cotton) using light fastness. The bark of Calotropis Procera was purchased from Itam market in Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The dye was extracted using maceration and Soxhlet techniques with distilled water and ethanol respectively. The dye was extracted in four states. Using Soxhlet technique with ethanol and distilled water as solvents, the colours obtained after filtration were Nespresso and marigold respectively. Using maceration technique with ethanol and distilled water as solvents yielded Hollister and honey colours respectively. The extracted dyes were applied on cotton fabric treated with mordant. Colours obtained after dyeing using Nespresso was yellow, marigold gave blonde, Hollister was honey and honey colour resulted to butter. The wash fastness visual results for cotton fabrics dyed with dye extracted using Soxhlet and maceration with distilled water as solvent were rated 1-2 poor while the ones extracted with ethanol as solvent using same techniques were rated 3 and 2-3 respectively.