Extraction of Natural Dyes from Forest Trees and their Application in Textiles

The environment - friendly natural dyes are recently enjoying resurgence in popularity because of the concern with the carcinogenic, mutagenic and sensitizing characteristics of many synthetic dyes. Showing concern towards the nature and to avoid pollution of our environment two forest plants Bixa orellana and Caesalpinia sappan were selected as natural dye sources. In this study, from the bark of C. sappan, seeds of B. orellana and combination of B. orellana and C. sappan, the dyes were extracted. The phytochemical compounds present in the extracts were analyzed as carotenoids in B. orellana and anthocyanin, phenolic acids, flavonoids in C. sappan using TLC. The extracts were then applied to cotton fabric using various natural and chemical mordants which were then tested for their color fastness against rubbing and washing to know the efficiency of the dye. This study will help in improving the natural dye resources and replace them with synthetic dyes, consequently leading to a safe environment.