Surface modification/treatment of cotton for greener application of natural dyes
One of the drawbacks of the application of natural dyes on cotton fabric includes the need to use chemical mordants to improve the dyeability and colourfastness of the dyed material. The chemical mordants used are normally based on complex compound with heavy metals such as Cr, Mn and Cu as the main component. Both chemical and physical modifications of cotton can be achieved using various compounds and many studies focused on the effect of these modifications on the dyeability of cotton with synthetic dyes. Effect on the natural dyes ability however is still not studied widely.
Decolourisation of textile wastewater using natural adsorbents
Various nonconventional low cost natural adsorbents capable of decolourising textile wastewater available abundantly in Malaysia are being investigated for decolourising capability. The effects of adsorbent dosage, agitation, dye concentration, pH and temperature on the decolourising capability are among the parameters included in the study.
