Studies on dyeing and bacterial resistance of Dacryodes macrophylla extract on woollen fabric

Abstract

The dyeing of wool fabric using a natural dye extracted from Dacryodes macrophylla has been studied using both conventional as well as ultrasonic dyeing methods. Natural dye was extracted using water as solvent by Soxhlet extraction method. The extracted color was characterized by spectroscopic studies like UV/Visible and further tested for antimicrobial activity (against Vibrio cholerae (MTCC3906), Salmonella enterica serotype typhi (MTCC733), Shigella flexneri (MTCC1457), Escherichia coli (MTCC119), Listeria monocytogenes (MTCC657) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96). It was observed that the water extract of D. macrophylla showed antimicrobial activities against S. enterica. The effect of mordants on the dyeing outcome in terms of colour depth as well as fastness properties of the dyeing was investigated. It has been found that employing all the three techniques of dyeing i.e., conventional dyeing at 100 oC and 80 oC as well as ultrasonicated dyeings conducted at 80 oC, the mordanted samples were deeper in depth than their unmordanted counterparts. The results of fastness properties of the dyed fabrics were fair to good. Depths of the shade and fastness properties in case of ultrasonic dyeing were found to be better compared to conventional dyeing. Dacryodes macrophyllaextract was found to enhance microbial resistance of wool as well as was itself as a good source of coloration. These textiles dyed with the natural dyes can be very useful in developing clothing for infants, elderly and infirm people to protect them against common infections.