Title: Efficient processing of raw material defines the ecological position of natural dyes in textile production

Authors: Thomas Bechtold, Amalid Mahmud-Ali, Erika Ganglberger, Susanne Geissler

Addresses: Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics, Leopod Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Hoechsterstrabe 73, A-6850 Dornbirn, Austria. ' Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics, Leopod Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Hoechsterstrabe 73, A 6850 Dornbirn, Austria. ' Institute for Applied Ecology, Seidengasse 13, A-1070 Vienna, Austria. ' Institute for Applied Ecology, Seidengasse 13, A-1070 Vienna, Austria

Abstract: The production of natural dyes from plant sources available in the moderate climate of Austria (Europe) has been studied. Besides direct agricultural production, additional sources e.g., bark from timber industry and wastes from food industry have been investigated. Model calculations of energy consumption indicate that stabilised plant material e.g., dried plants, is favourable compared to dyestuff extracts. The low dyestuff content of the crops demands extraction of huge amounts of plant material, thus extraction should be performed in water only. Dyeing experiments indicate that based on a selection of dyestuffs and mordants an acceptable quality level can be reached.

Keywords: natural dyes; textile dyeing; dyestuff extraction; energy consumption; plant waste; raw materials processing; Austria; textiles; bark; food wastes; dyestuffs; mordants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2008.018244

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2008 Vol.2 No.3, pp.215 - 232

Published online: 13 May 2008 *

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