An Alternative Natural Dyestuff for Leather Dyeing Red Beetroot (Beta Vulgaris L.)

Abstract

Increasing awareness of environment and human health, the demand/interest for using of natural products from renewable biological sources has increased in terms of sustainable production recently. In line with this idea, natural dyes are attracting more and more attention due to their advantages such as being obtained from natural/renewable resources, being less harmful to the environment and human health, and degradability in nature. In the present study, the aim was to investigate possible use of red beetroot concentrate as a natural dyestuff in leather making and evaluate its dyeing performance. For this purpose, crust leathers tanned with different tanning agents (chrome, Tara, aluminum/synthetic) were dyed with red beetroot. Furthermore, CuSO4.5H2O (copper sulfate), KAl(SO4)2.12H2O (potassium aluminum sulfate) and FeSO4.7H2O (iron sulfate) mordants were used in pre- and post- mordanting applications so as to obtain different colors and improve the fastness properties of the dyed leathers. Dyestuff consumptions, dry/wet rubbing fastness values and the colors imparted to leathers were determined. Dyestuff consumptions for Cr tanned leathers were better than other leather types as expected. However, among mordant treatments use of CuSO4.5H2O mordant resulted notably increments (59.8%-62.2%) in dyestuff consumptions of Tara and aluminum/synthetic tanned leathers. The values of dry/wet rubbing fastness of leathers were quite satisfactory. Red beetroot and mordants gained different color tones to different types of tanned leathers and the most conspicuous variation was obtained with FeSO4.7H2O mordant. It was inferred that red beetroot concentrate can be used directly as a source of natural dyestuff in leather dyeing without necessitating any extraction process.