MINI THESIS

MRSM MUKAH

“BIOWASTE MATERIALS AS ECO-FRIENDLY MORDANT IN FABRIC DYE

PROCESS”

GROUP MEMBERS :-

1. Hani Nuraini binti Zaini (144123)2. Nurnadhirah Hawani binti Omar Ali (144086)3. Marsya Nurafiqah binti Mohammad Abdul Karim (144094)

FACILITATOR :-

- Miss Izzati

WRITER’S ADMIT

“I admit that this project is our own work except for the references that we had given the sources of the websites.”

Signature :Writer’s name:Date:

Signature :Writer’s name:Date:

Signature :Writer’s name:Date:

FACILITATOR’S ADMIT

“I admit that that this thesis is sufficient in scope and qualify for the graduation of Form 5”

Signature:

Name :

Date:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, we would like to convey our appreciation to these people who have been helping us throughout the process of doing our project. We would like to thank the Principal of MARA Junior Science College, Mr.Abdul Aziz bin Baba for giving us the golden opportunity to do this project in order for us to graduate.

Next, we would like to thank our facilitator, Miss Izzati for guiding us in doing the project all the way throughout the process. We would also like to thank her for being a supportive facilitator.

Furthermore, we would like to give our thanks to our parents respectively for giving us useful advice, support and also contribute something for our project in terms of money, time and energy.

Lastly, a huge thank you for the group members for giving each other’s the greatest cooperation in doing this project. Thank you for all the moral support to make this project a success.

CONTENTS

Contents PageWriter’s Admit iFacilitator’s Admit iiAcknowledgement iiiAbstract vIntroduction

- Problem statements- Objectives- Aim of the project

Literature reviewResearch methodResultsDiscussionConclusionReferences

ABSTRACT

The aim of the project is to combat the use of chemical and synthetic dyes in coloring fabrics. We use teabags, banana or pineapple waste, mangosteen skin or dragon fruit, rambutan rinds or apple and fish scales as dye fabric. Meanwhile we use rusty nails, copper, alum, lemon juice, cream of tartar and baking soda as mordant for the fabric. We use internet such as facebook and google as a reference for this project. We also use newspaper as main reference to this project. This eco-friendly mordant in fabric dyes process is to reduce the amount of chemical substances in daily uses. This project also can reduce soil pollution on earth by reuse the waste materials. By making this project, we can recycle or reuse waste materials in this earth.

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Problem Statements

As we all have seen these days that chemically dyed clothes are lack in quality as in the colors on the clothes fade quickly after a few days we purchase them. So, we decided to change the way of dyeing clothes which is eliminate chemicals and substitute the chemicals into biowaste materials such as rambutan rinds, tea bags, banana peels, dragon fruit or purple cabbages and fish scale meanwhile rusty nails, copper, alum, lemon juice, cream of tartar and baking soda as the mordant. The main aim for the project is to investigate whether waste products can dye fabric or not. The reason is we observed waste materials are mounting and polluting the soil each day. We wanted to reuse the waste materials into something useful such as dye and mordant. Our project is especially for people who are passionate in DIYs and arts, refineries manufacture of clothes and to promote Go Green campaign to save our Earth for the younger generation. We believe our project can be a success. Throughout this project we are doing, we faced a lot of problems such as we are lack of materials, we had so little time to do the project since we are packed with our own daily schedules and school events, facilitator is constantly unavailable and we are lack of information since the internet and papers only provide her (Faye Jong Sow Fei) achievements instead her ways of doing the project.

1.2 Objectives

a) to investigate the alternatives for dyeing fabrics

b) to lessen or eliminate the use of chemicals in dyeing fabrics

c) to prevent pollution such as soil pollution

d) to produce an eco-friendly fabric dye and mordant

1.3 Aim Of The Project

Our project which is in the environmental management category, investigate the use of biowaste materials as eco-friendly alternatives in dyeing fabrics. The aim of the project is to combat the use of chemicals and synthetic dyes in coloring fabrics.

The question is can waste materials be used to dye fabrics? Is it safe for human body system? Does it affect the nature and also human population?

The hypothesis of the project is using waste materials as mordant and dye has the same result and quality compared to using other poisonous chemicals to dye fabrics. The only difference is using waste materials as mordant and dye is eco-friendly.

The values of the project are it is generally eco-friendly. It can also be easily found. Plus, the materials are not costly and the project is very convenient.

The true meaning of waste is any material unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted. On the other hand, the definition of mordant is a substance, typically an inorganic oxide, that combines with a dye or stain and thereby fixes it in a material. Another meaning for mordant is a corrosive liquid used to etch the lines on a printing plate. But in our context, we are trying to change into an eco-friendly product.

In conclusion, we believe that our project will bring so many benefits to the community, not only community but to the world because it helps beautify the world with eco-friendly products and save the earth by recycling waste materials into something permanent and wonderful.  

LITERATURE REVIEW

Research into natural dyes is important due to the renewed interest shown in environmentally responsible practices: buying local and artisan dying. Natural dyes have many advantages over synthetic dyes, such as their ecologically sustainable properties, and (depending on the mordant) they are relatively free of poisonous chemicals (Flint, 2008). It is important to note that drawbacks such as inherently poor colorfastness and the need for a greater amount of dye matter has slowed down use of natural dyes and makes them a poor sole substitute for synthetic dyes (Flint, 2008). However, synthetic dyes are known to have had adverse effects on the health of workers and have poisoned previously drinkable water (Flint, 2008). Thus, the environmental and safety concerns make research of environmentally responsible natural dye practices an important goal.

Keywords : Mordant, plants, natural dyes.

Natural dyes can be sorted into three categories : natural dyes obtain from plants, animals and minerals. Dyes do not interect directly with the materials. Natural dyes are substansive and required a mordant to fix to the fabric, and prevent from fading through the light and washing machine. This compounds binds to the natural of the product. A mordant is an element which aids the chemical reactions between the fibre and dyes, so that the dye is absorbed.

Cotton and jute fabrics were dyed with an aqueous extract of tea, containing tannins as the main colorant species. The dyeing was carried out with and without metal salts as mordants, using three different dyeing methods: pre-mordanting, meta-mordanting and post-mordanting. The resulting wash and light fastnesses of the dyed fabrics were good to excellent.

METHODOLOGY

In this project, we made 2 experiments that is process of making mordant and process of making dye. We make this project following the order of the process that have been shown by Faye Jong Sow Fei in the internet.

In order to prepare the dye, tea bags, banana peels, dragon fruit, apple peels and fish scale are needed. The materials are pounded or grinded by using blender or mortar. The powder is put into a pot with a cup or two of water and boiled, the heat is reduced and is allowed to simmer for an hour. Let cool.

For mordant, 1 cup of vinegar is used and mixed into a quart of water. Then, the rusted sections of rusty nails are scraped and sand off. A hammer is used to pound the rust into powder. 2 tablespoons of rust is needed.

For working with the fabric, the fabric is soaked in the mordant of rust powder and vinegar. The fabric is soaked overnight. The fabric is drained the next morning. The fabric is blotted by using paper towels but is not allowed to wring it. By wearing rubber gloves, the fabric is soaked in the dye bath and let it overnight.

Plant materials are chopped into small pieces and the materials are placed in a large pot. The amount of water for plant material is doubled. The dye is strained to remove plant material. The liquid is poured into a bucket. The fabric is added to the pot to be dyed by wearing rubber gloves to prevent from staining the hands. The fabric is soaked in the dye overnight for a stronger color.

Any loose dye of the fabric is released by rinsing it in cool water until the water runs clear.

RESULTS

From the result, we have problems in finding the waste materials and information on the internet. Besides, we also have problem when our facilitator have lots of work and dont have much time on us but it is not the reason for us to quit. We never give up in finding the information about our project. We really want the best for ourselves and our school. We hope that this project will work smoothly.

In this project, we learn that not everything in this world have to be made of chemical substances. We could use another way by recycling or reuse waste materials. Our earth would stay healthy. This project also can open the mind of factories workers to use natural substances instead of chemical. We need to care about our ‘old’ earth that was mad by lots activities was made by humans.

That’s why we feel that our project can take care our nature of earth and also life of a human will be safe living in the earth.

Analysis Data

We’ve got our information from the internet and newspaper. We also have our facilitator to help us a lot in this project. ‘Faye does nation proud’ post in The Star news at 21 May 2014. We have a lot of information given by the 15 years old student at SMK Batu Lintang. She wining the best category and first award for her project “Biowaste materials as Eco-friendly Mordant in Fabric Dye Process”.

We also collect our data from the internet with the help of natural dye factories information. From our view, there are lots of people interested in making this project. It is because the uses of waste materials for fabric dye. They found that this project is a big challenging as it is from the waste materials.

This project is originally came from 15 years old girl that studying at SMK Batu Lintang. She had given a beautiful name that is Faye Jong Sow Fei. From the project, we know that we can reduce the amount of waste material in this earth. Furthermore, this project can open the mind of factories worker to use natural substances instead of chemical. This project also can avoid soil pollution that became the main problem of people nowadays.

Lastly, we hope that our project will be teacher’s attention as it we work very hard for making this project became successful.

REFERENCE

Through Internet

1. Facebook, Faye Jong Sow Fei, 15 years old. Participate in the intel international Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) https://www.facebook.com/faye.sowfei?fref=ts

2. http://www.liveatpc.com/youth-of-the-nation/

3. http://sarawakcorner.blogspot.com/2014/05/sarawak-corner-borneopost-sarawak-car.html

4. http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/365857?tid=1

5. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/05/21/Faye-does-nation-proud-SMK-Batu- Lintang-girl-shines-at-international-science-fair-in-LA/

6. http://www.computerworld.com.my/print-article/58533/

7. http://www.knowitall.org/naturalstate/html/Natural-Dyes/Natural_Dyes-3.cfm

8. http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/diy-we-tried-eco-dyeing

9. https://www.google.com.my/search? newwindow=1&site=&source=hp&q=ingredients+for+mordant&oq=ingredients+for+mordant&gs_l=hp.3...3442.12689.0.13359.23.17.0.6.6.0.191.1756.1j14.15.0....0...1c.1.47.hp..6.17.1393.Fl5G7e5x7ec

10. http://www.chicagocraftmafia.com/2011/01/a-step-by-step-tutorial-to-eco-friendly-and-natural- dyes/

Through Newspaper

1.The Star,Sarawak, Wednesday 21 May 2014. “Faye does nation proud” by Sharon Ling.

ATTACHMENTS

1.1 Apple Peels

1.2 Banana Peels

1.3 Dragon Fruit

1.4 Fish Scale

1.5 Rusty Nails

1.6 Tea Bags

1.7 Vinegar

1.8 Cream Of Tartar

1.9 Copper

1.10 Alum

1.11 Baking Soda

1.12 Fabric

1.13 Faye Jong Sow Fei, 15, SMK Batu Lintang

1.14 With her display board at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

1.15 With her friends from Malaysia that participate in Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Hani Nuraini binti Zaini

Marsya Nurafiqah binti Mohammad Abdul Karim

Nurnadhirah Hawani binti Omar Ali