The Use of Modified Fenton Chemistry for Reducing Energy Consumption during Dyeing of Wool and Nylon 6 Fabrics with Acid Dyes

Abstract

Energy is the most expensive component in wet processing of textiles and many researchers direct their efforts toward energy-saving processes. In this investigation, we report a low-temperature dyeing process for wool and polyamide 6 (PA 6) fabrics with acid dyes in presence of a novel modified Fenton’s reagent (MFR), namely H2O2/FeSO47H2O/oxalic acid. The said fabrics were dyed with acid dyes containing one and two sulfonic groups in presence of MFR at different pH, temperatures, and durations. The fastness properties of the dyed fabrics were evaluated. The alteration in the chemical structure of the modified wool was monitored by Infrared Spectroscopy together with alkali and urea-bisulfite solubility. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the dyed samples were assessed. Results indicate that the proposed MFR enhanced the dyeability of wool and PA 6 fabrics with the anionic dyes at relatively low temperature. The fastness properties of the dyed fabric were improved that assures the formation of relatively strong covalent bonds between the said fabrics and dyes. The spectroscopic and chemical analyses proved that limited amount of the disulfide bonds in wool keratin were oxidized during the proposed dyeing process. No severe deterioration in the mechanical properties of the dyed samples.

Keywords

• wool
• polyamide 6
• fabric
• acid dye
• dyeing
• modified fenton’s reagent
• energy-saving dyeing