Evaluation of Dye Fixatives – A Comparative Study

Dyeing is the important unit process in leather manufacturing, which adds value to the leather. Although formic acid is used for fixing of dyes in leather processing, difficulties do arise in fixation of certain dye stuffs. Further high quantities of formic acid used do create health issues and adds to high cost of production. Compounds such as formic acid, acetic acid, mixture of organic acids and quaternary ammonium compounds have been found to function as dye fixatives. The efficacy of these compounds to function as dye fixatives for various dye stuffs and substances either alone or along with formic acid has been studied in detail in this work. The physical and color characteristics of leather and spent liquor analysis have been carried out.