Dyeing Properties, Color Gamut, and Color Evaluation of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Fish Leather Dyed from Extraction of Acer ginnala maxim. Leaves

Natural dyes, with their good sustainability and environmental friendliness, are increasingly becoming a hot topic in the field of textile dyeing research. The Acer ginnala maxim. (A. ginnala) plant, commonly used for landscaping and prized for its red leaves in the autumn, has rarely been utilized for its fallen leaves. Using A. ginnala leaves as a source of dye can increase its economic value. This study aims to extract dye from A. ginnala fallen leaves for dyeing fish leather. The experiment involved dye extraction from A. ginnala leaves. The UV–visible absorption spectroscopy was used to evaluate the dye extract and an optimal extraction method was chosen. The dye extract was then applied to dye chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) fish leather. The optimal dyeing process was determined through single-factor experiments and orthogonal experiments. The study further investigated the contribution of Fe²⁺ mordant to the dyeing performance, the color stability, and color gamut of A. ginnala dye on fish leather. The color characteristics of dyed fish leather were determined using a color spectrophotometer. And ATR-FTIR was used to examine the leather structure. The color value of dyed fish leather was assessed using the nine-color-domain model in the CNCS color system. The results indicated that dyeing fish leather with A. ginnala dye and Fe²⁺ mordant could produce stable color of black-gray tones and gradient color of gray-yellow tones. The L^* value range of the stable color was 17.03–28.46, which color style mainly characterized as low-key in V₃. The L^* value range of the gradient color was 20.20–65.30, a^* value range was −0.93–9.96, b^* value range was −5.50–28.90, C^* value range was 0.36–29.00, and h° value range was 64.03–89.00, which color style was characterized as rigorous, steady, natural, and plain. Dyeing with A. ginnala leaf dye did not affect the fish leather’s tissue structure. Furthermore, the dyed fish leather samples exhibited good color fastness to perspiration, rubbing, and sunlight. Dyeing fish leather with A. ginnala leaf dye provided a new approach for transforming high-value fish leather products.