Dyeing performance analysis of cotton knit fabric using water-sorbitol dyeing medium

Mahjabin, Saima (author), Hossain, Mohammad Mosharof (author), Fariz, Abdullah Al (author), Mahmud, Md. Himel (author), Faysal, G.M. (author), Roy, Manindra Nath (author)

The conventional reactive dyeing process for cellulosic fibres, such as cotton, is fraught with challenges, particularly concerning the hydrolysis of dyes and the resultant-coloured sewage, which complicates wastewater treatment. This study introduces an innovative solution by integrating sorbitol into the dyeing process. By varying the proportions of sorbitol mixed with water, the researchers aimed to enhance dyeing efficiency while mitigating environmental impacts. The experimental procedure involved pre-treating knitted cotton fabric and preparing a dyeing liquor that combined sorbitol and water. Dyeing was performed using an infrared sample dyeing machine, which allows for more controlled and efficient dye application. To evaluate the results, colour strength and colour measurement characteristics (CMC) in the post-dye liquor were analysed using a Data Color 650 spectrophotometer. The findings revealed that fabrics dyed with sorbitol not only displayed higher chroma values but also resulted in a reduction of dye strength in the post-dye liquor. This indicates a significant decrease in the hydrolysis of reactive dyes, leading to lower costs associated with sewage treatment. Furthermore, colourfastness tests performed on the dyed fabrics demonstrated excellent performance, underscoring the effectiveness of this unique dyeing approach. Future research will focus on applying this method with various classes of reactive dyes in order to explore their performance based on different reactive groups to further enhance the non-aqueous medium dyeing of cotton in textile dyeing processes.

• Language: English
• Keywords: cotton, reactive dye, sorbitol, solvent dyeing
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.03 - Other scientific articles
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 23-32
• Numbering: Vol. 69, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-190910
• UDC: 677
• ISSN on article: 0351-3386
• DOI: 10.14502/tekstilec.69.2024154
• COBISS.SI-ID: 304307971
• Publication date in RUL: 06.11.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Tekstilec : glasilo slovenskih tekstilcev
• Shortened title: Tekstilec
• Publisher: Zveza inženirjev in tehnikov tekstilcev, Splošno združenje tekstilne industrije, Zveza inženirjev in tehnikov tekstilcev, Splošno združenje tekstilne industrije, Društvo inženirjev in tehnikov tekstilcev, Univerza v Ljubljani, Naravoslovnotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za tekstilstvo, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 0351-3386
• COBISS.SI-ID: 763396

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Analiza učinkovitosti barvanja bombažnega pletiva z uporabo barvnega sredstva na osnovi vode in sorbitola

Abstract

Konvencionalni postopek reaktivnega barvanja celuloznih vlaken, kot je bombaž, je povezan s številnimi izzivi, še posebno zaradi hidrolize barvil in posledično obarvanih odpadnih voda, kar otežuje njihovo čiščenje. Raziskava predstavlja inovativno rešitev, ki v procesu barvanja vključuje uporabo sorbitola. S spreminjanjem količine sorbitola, pomešanega z vodo, smo želeli izboljšati učinkovitost barvanja ter istočasno zmanjšati vpliv na okolje. Eksperimentalni postopek je vključeval predobdelavo bombažnega pletiva ter pripravo barvalne kopeli, sestavljene iz sorbitola in vode. Barvanje je bilo izvedeno z barvalnim aparatom z IR segrevanjem, ki omogoča natančnejši nadzor nad procesom in učinkovitejši nanos barvila. Za ovrednotenje rezultatov so bili intenzivnost barve ter barvne vrednosti v barvalni kopeli po barvanju analizirani s spektrofotometrom Data Color 650. Rezultati so pokazali, da so tkanine, barvane s sorbitolom, izkazovale višje vrednosti krome, hkrati pa je bila v barvalni kopeli po barvanju zaznana manjša intenzivnost barve. Slednje kaže na znatno zmanjšanje hidrolize reaktivnih barvil, kar posledično vodi do nižjih stroškov čiščenja odpadnih voda. Preizkusi obstojnosti barv na barvanih tkaninah so ravno tako pokazali odlične rezultate, kar potrjuje učinkovitost tega novega pristopa k barvanju. Prihodnje raziskave se bodo osredotočile na uporabo barvanja s sorbitolom z različnimi reaktivnimi barvili ter na preučevanje njihove učinkovitosti, da bi še izboljšali barvanje bombaža v nevodnih medijih.

• Keywords: bombaž, reaktivna barva, sorbitol, barvanje v topilu