Extraction and Application of Natural Pigments from Plant Sources as Sustainable Alternatives to Synthetic Dyes.

Abstract

Colors are necessary and extensively used items. Man has made colors synthetically which are used in different industries world-wide, causing damage to life and environment. Natural dyes are biodegradable and are beneficial as they contain antioxidants, vitamins etc. So, the world is trying hard to shift from chemical dyes towards naturally made.

The aim is to show potential of natural extracts in dyeing of bioplastic, soap, lip balm, and cotton cloth. It promotes the use of natural dyes instead of chemical ones, which cause health problems, persist in environment and release toxic elements. This study shows that natural colors can be used instead of chemicals across multiple applications. Bioplastic is made by gelatinization process, for soap lye solution is made, for lip balm the sample was heated and mixed with different ingredients until it homogenizes, and for dyeing cotton, scouring and mordanting techniques were used. All these products were made under specific lab procedures. Bioplastic was flexible (moldable), and smooth in texture, cotton cloths gained bright colors and did not remove on washing (due to mordanting). The lip balm was smooth, creamy, semi-solid, the soap was firm and smooth in texture. Products were dyed successfully with beetroot, spinach and turmeric extracts. Bright, safe, and biodegradable colorants were yielded and successfully applied. Overall, it proved that by using natural plant-based colors/dyes, it can contribute at large scale to a sustainable world by replacing synthetic-chemical dyes used in industries and at other scales. 

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