Unconventional Natural Dyeing Using Microwave Heating with Cochineal as Natural Dyes

Abstract

This research concerns making wool fabrics with dye extracted from cochineal using microwave heating. The result shows good fastness properties. To promote value addition in domestic processing and to boost rural income and employment in small-scale agroenterprises, it is necessary to promote non-polluting natural dyes, which involve inexpensive equipment and small-scale operations. The exploration of new flora can be environmentally and economically viable. Our aim is to show the feasibility of providing high-quality natural dyes extracted from insects, thus improving our environment and giving opportunities to the fabric industry to catch up with the current consumer trends towards more aesthetic fabrics and natural products. We investigate cochineal as a natural dye using microwave irradiation under different factors such as dye extraction, the pH level of dye bath, dyeing time, dye concentration, microwave power level and mordants, and compare the results with those obtained using traditional heating. The dye extraction indicates that microwave heating is a more effective method than traditional heating. The kinetic parameters are examined to determine half-dyeing time (t½), dye affinity (Δµ°), dye rate constant (K) and heat content (ΔH).