Pigment Extraction of Safflower, Dyeing Properties and Antimicrobial Study of Dyed Silk

Abstract

The extractions of yellow and red pigments from safflower petals were studied. The pigment extracted was further utilized as a natural dye for silk dyeing. The safflower petals were water-extracted in order to remove the yellow pigment and the extraction of red pigment from the petals was done with alkali solution. The extracted red pigment was applied to a silk fabric by dyeing process. The effects of dye concentration and pH of dye bath were studied. The colourimetric analysis of each dyed material was done in terms of the CIELab (L*, a* and b*) and K/S values. Maximum color strength for red color was obtained at pH 4. Color fastness to washing and light was evaluated. Washing fastness was 4-5 but light fastness for red dyed silk was 1. The dyed silk did not display antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923T and Escherichia coli ATCC25922T.