Valorisation of Waste kapok leaves in Functional dyeing of nylon fabric

Abstract

Natural dyes are sustainable, biodegradable, and largely devoid of harmful chemicals. This research explored dyeing nylon fabric with waste kapok leaf extract (KLE) using various metallic mordants, such as aluminium sulfate, copper (II) sulfate, and ferrous sulfate. The dyed nylon fabrics were analyzed for their color properties, fastness, and functional features, such as antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Fastness ratings ranged from “good” to “excellent”. Pre-mordanted fabrics exhibited enhanced color intensity and fastness, whereas non-mordanted samples showed relatively low color intensity . The dyed nylon fabrics showed antibacterial performance of varying degrees depending on the combination of mordant and dye; the best samples displayed a reduction of E. coli and S. aureus colonies by over 80 %. The antioxidant activity of the dyed fabrics ranged from 68.97 % to 94.42 %. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of a variety of phytochemicals in the extract. The dyed nylon fabric pre-mordanted with ferrous sulphate (KL7) achieved a UPF of 82.98, indicating excellent UV protection, which was better than other dyed fabrics. The eco-friendly approach to functional dyeing of nylon has been validated.