Graphene Oxide Embedded Copper Composite as an Efficient Mordant to Enhance the Properties of Natural Dye Coated Cotton Fabric.

Abstract

In the textile sector, the utilization of synthetic dyes is environmentally unfriendly and has a very harmful impact on human health and the environment. Hence, natural dye is assumed to be a suitable alternative for sustainable textile manufacturing and colouration, but it remains challenging to prepare the dyes having high stability with textile fablric. Herein we have demonstrated the dyeing process for cotton fabric with natural dye extractions from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and tea (Camellia sinensis) in the presence of mordant. Subsequently, we have prepared copper and 2-methyl 8-hydroxyquinoline functionalized graphene oxide (GO) (CHG) trinary-composite as mordant to improve the stability and colour strength of naturally extracted dyes. The prepared trinary-composite was investigated using various techniques such as FTIR, XRD, UV, and TGA analysis. To evaluate the effect of CHG composite, it mixed with natural extracted dyes such as turmeric and tea dyes, converted to CHG functionalized turmeric and tea dyes (TuCHG and TeCHG) for the dyeing of cotton fabric. TuCHG and TeCHG dyed cotton fabrics exhibited superior colourfastness, wash fastness and rub fastness in comparison to only turmeric and tea dyes dyed cotton fabrics. TuCHG and TeCHG dyes also demonstrated decent antibacterial properties. The present study indicates the new aspect for prepared mordant to increase natural dye colour strength and stability. Thus, this process is a much safer, cost-effective and sustainable method for the application of natural dyes with enhanced substantively for cotton fabric.