Comparison of Dyeing and Functionalization Potential of Some Selected Plant Extracts Applied on Cotton Fabric

Abstract

In wake of eco-friendly approach, there is a growing trend to impart various functional attributes in textile substrates through green chemistry approaches. In this context, a comparative study of coloration, mosquito repellency, UV protection and antimicrobial potential was made for seven plant extracts applied on cotton fabric. The plant biomass include leaves of Lawsonia inermis, rhizome of Curcuma longa, bark of Acacia nilotica & Eucalyptus globules, peels of Punica grantum & Allium cepa and flowers of Tagetes erecta. For this purpose, extracts of these plants biomass were applied on cotton fabric samples and evaluated for their color strength by Kubelka-Munk equation; anti-microbial potential by zone of inhibition in bacteriostasis agar; UPF for UV protection by ultraviolet absorbance analysis; mosquito repellency by percentage insect landing and percentage repellency. It was found that T. erecta showed good mosquito repellency, UV protection and antimicrobial potential along with its exceptionally high color strength value but poor fastness properties. However, A. nilotica demonstrated outstanding fastness properties but showed moderate color strength value.