Salt-free and simultaneous dyeing of cellulose acetate and cotton fibers in water-liquid paraffin mixture: A sustainable approach

A substantial amount of chemicals and water is usually used in the traditional dyeing process, producing wastewater effluent that is harmful to the environment and human health. Hence, this study presents an innovative and environmentally friendly method to examine the simultaneous dyeing of cellulose acetate (CA) and cotton fibers without the use of salt in a water-liquid paraffin micro-emulsion system, employing disperse and reactive dyes. The Taguchi-designed orthogonal technique was carried out to optimize the operating parameters, focusing on the response variable of K/S (color strength). It was determined that the dyeing temperature had the greatest impact, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Afterward, several analytical techniques were used to analyze the treated samples, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and assessments of colorfastness to washing and rubbing. The implementation of the salt-free and simultaneous dyeing process resulted in a reduction in water and chemical usage. Additionally, it enhanced the understanding of the impact of the micro-emulsion system on color strength, offering a new pathway toward achieving sustainable development and clean production in textile coloration.