Hydrolysis-free and fully recyclable reactive dyeing of cotton in green, non-nucleophilic solvents for a sustainable textile industry

Luyi Chen, Bijia Wang, Xinhui Ruan, Jiangang Chen, Yiqi Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

A preventive approach to reduce the environmental burden associated with textile processing was demonstrated by creating a fully recyclable reactive dyeing process for cotton. Reactive dyeing is the most commonly used coloration method for cotton, yet it generates the most problematic effluents that are not only difficult to treat but also non-reusable. Dye hydrolysis, the major barrier to reusing spent reactive dye baths was eliminated in the current study by replacing water with non-nucleophilic green solvents as the processing media. Dye sorption and dye fixation as affected by solvent composition and type of bases were investigated. Compared with conventional aqueous dyeing, the solvent-based process required up to 40% less dye, 97.5% less base, and no inorganic salts. Recycling of all spent baths throughout the process was demonstrated with a 10-cycle repeated dyeing sequence, which displayed consistently high shade build-up and colorfastness. Based on the 10-cycle sequence, the reduction in waste disposal was estimated to be over 99% for both organics and salts. Five different monochlorotriazine dyes featuring different chromophores were successfully applied to cotton using the solvent-based dyeing method. The favorable results implied that discharge-free reactive dyeing could be possible. The solvent dyeing process has significant potential for requiring no modifications of dyes or fabrics and no pressurization. By implementing the principles of reducing waste, reusing, and recycling resources (3Rs), the solvent-based process developed in this study could be a solid step towards sustainable textile processing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)550-556
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Cleaner Production
Volume107
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 16 2015

Keywords

  • Cotton fabrics
  • Hydrolysis free
  • Non-nucleophilic solvent
  • Reactive dyeing
  • Recyclable
  • Sustainable textile industry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Building and Construction
  • General Environmental Science
  • Strategy and Management
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hydrolysis-free and fully recyclable reactive dyeing of cotton in green, non-nucleophilic solvents for a sustainable textile industry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this