Potential of Henna Leaves as Dye and Its Fastness Properties on Fabric

Despite the wide spread use of synthetic dyes, natural dyes are still exploited and used to enhance its inherent aesthetic qualities as a major material for beautification of the body. Centuries before the discovery of synthetic dyes, natural dyes were the only source of dye open to mankind. Dyes are extracted from plant - leaves, roots and barks, insect secretions, and minerals. However, research findings have made it clear that of all, plants- leaves, roots, barks or flowers are the most explored and exploited in which henna (Lawsonia innermis L.) is one of those plants. Experiment has also shown that henna is used in body painting in conjunction with an alkaline (Ammonium Sulphate) as a fixing agent. This of course gives a clue that if colour derived from henna is properly investigated, it may not only be used for body decoration but possibly, may have affinity to fiber substrate. This paper investigates the dyeing potentials – dye ability and fastness qualities of henna dye extracts on cotton and linen fibers using mordants like ammonium sulphate and other alkalis (hydrosulphate and caustic soda, potash, common salt, potassium alum). Hot and cold water and ethanol solvent were used in the extraction of the dye to investigate the most effective method, dye ability, and fastness qualities of these extracts under room temperature. The results of the experiment show that cotton have a high rate of dye intake than other fiber. On a similar note, the colours obtained depend most on the solvent used. In conclusion, hot water extraction appears more effective. While the colours obtained from ethanol and both cold hot methods of extraction range from light to dark yellow, light green to army green and to some extent shades of brown hues.

Authors:

• Nkem Angela Udeani

Keywords:

• Dye
• fabrics
• henna leaves
• potential.

References:

[1] Alam, M. M, Rahman, M. I, Haque, M. Z. (2007). Extraction of Henna
Leaf Dye and its Dyeing Effects on Textile Fiber. Bangladesh Journal
of Scientific ans Industrial Research. Vol. 42. No 2. Pp217 – 222
[2] Blue Castle Fiber Art. (2015). “Natural Dye Basics”.
http://www.bluecastlefiberart.com Retrieved July 31, 2015.
[3] Burch, P. E. (2015). “About Natural Dyes” All About Hand Dyeing.
http://www.pburch.net A Web Page created in 2005. Retrieved July
31 2015.
[4] Saxena, S. and Raja, A. S. M (2014). Natural Dyes: Sources, Chemistry,
Application and Sustainability. Central Institute for Research on Cotton
Tehnology, Mumbai, India.
[5] Blue Castle Fiber Art. (2015). “Mordants for Natural Dye”.
http://www.bluecastlefiberart.com Retrieved July 31, 2015
[6] Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z. (1976). Hortus Third: A concise dictionary of
plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. New York:
Macmillan. ISBN 978-0025054707.
[7] Yusuf, M., Shahid, M., Khan, M.I., (...), Khan, M.A., Mohammad, F.
(2015). Dyeing studies with henna and madder: A research on effect of
tin (II) chloride mordant. Journal of Saudi Chemical Society. Vol 19, No
1. Pp 64 – 72.
[8] Hodge, A. (1982). A Survey of Nigeria’s Traditional craft,
Etholography, London.
[9] Oguntona T. (1986). Basic Textile Design Concepts and Methods. Zaria,
Institute of Education.
[10] “Henna”. (2014). Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica
Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago.
[11] Cartwright-Jones, Catherine (2004). "Cassia Obovata". Henna for Hair.
Retrieved 5 May 2013.
[12] Kumar S., Singh Y. V., & Singh, M. (2005). "Agro-History, Uses,
Ecology and Distribution of Henna (Lawsonia inermis L. syn. Alba
Lam)". Henna: Cultivation, Improvement, and Trade. Jodhpur: Central
Arid Zone Research Institute pp. 11–12.
[13] “Henna." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 (DVD). Redmond, WA: Microsoft
Corporation, 2008.
[14] Nkonye, P, O. (1993). Introductory Textile Science and Technology,
Samaru Road Zaria, Nigeria.
[15] Gohl, E.P.G, and Vilensky, L. D. (2005). Textile Science. Nazia
Printers, 2172 Rodgran Lel Kuan Delhi. ISBN 978-8123910383.
[16] Voortman, L (2015). Information on Natural Dye Plants and Mordants.
Blue Castle Fiber Arts. http://www.woolery.com Retrieved August 1,
2015. [17] Eicher, J. B. (1976). Nigeria Hand Crafted Textiles, University of Ife
Press, Ile Ife Nigeria. ISBN 978-136-002-x.
[18] Al-Rubaiy, K.K, Jaber, N.N, Al-Mhaawe, BH and Alrubaiy, L. K.
(2008). Antimicrobial Efficacy of Henna Extracts. Oman Medical
Journal, 23(4) 253-256.
[19] Shaukat, A, Tanveer, H, Rakhshanda, N. (2009). Optimization of
alkaline extraction of natural dye from Henna leaves and its dyeing on
cotton by exhaust method. J Clean Prod. Journal of Cleaner Production
(Impact Factor: 3.84). 01/2009; 17(1):61-66.
[20] Hafiz, H, Chukwu, O.O, and Nura, S. (2012). Potentials of Henna
(Lawsonia inamis L) Leaves Extracts as Countr Stain in Gram Staining
Reaction. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences (Banjopas),
Volume 5 No 2 December 2012
[21] Md. Mahabub H, Khandakar A. N, Abu Y, M. A. A,Nayon C. G (2015).
Application of Purified Lawsone as Natural Dye on Cotton and Silk
Fabric. Journal of Textiles. Vol. 2015 (2015) Article ID 932627, 7 pages
[22] “Potash” (Potash Development Association PDA, 2015).
www.pda.org.uk Retrieved August 11, 2015.
[23] Merriam Webster: Dictionary and Thesaurus (2015). “Dye” An online
Dictionary copyright 2015. www.merriam-webster.com Retrieved
August 9, 2015.