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Developing a dye using Caesalpinia sappan (Pathangi)

wood extract

BT 3064 (Experimental Plant Biotechnology)

Department of Plant Sciences

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• BT 3064 (Experimental Plant Biotechnology) course module

• Level III Plant Biotechnology (Special Degree)

• Group work of 6 students

• Supervised by,

• K.P.D. Tharaka• W.A.K.T.M. Anandawansha• P.N.A. Dayananda• P.V.D. Dilani• U.W.R. Sampath• D.I.M. Yahampath

• Dr. Sudeera Ranwala

• Dr. Pradeepika Saputhanthri

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What are natural dyes

Dyes derived from natural sources

Dyes are coloured, ionizing and aromatic organic compounds which show an affinity towards the substrate to which it is being applied

( Nemcova et al, 2014)

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Why use natural dyes?• Provide an environment friendly dye for

fabrics and garments• Do not contain chemicals harmful to health

and more reliable than the chemical synthetic dyes

• Reducing production costs and eliminating the huge expenses of chemical imports

• Biodegradable and do not cause disposal problems

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Pathangi (Caesalpinia sappan) as a natural dye

• The heartwood of the plant is used as dyeing agent

• The main dye component in the heartwood is brazilin

• Brazilin is a weakly coloured product

• Easily oxidises by air and light to give the deep red pigment brazilein.

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Our tasks : Aims and objectives

• To improve the extraction protocol by testing the effectiveness of different solvents.

• To investigate the effect of incorporating Kora-Kaha (Memecyclon umbellatum ) leaves in the extraction procedure.

• To find out most appropriate dye amount and mordanting method for effective dyeing of fabrics.

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Our tasks : Aims and objectives cont..

• To check the effectiveness of the dye, after application through certain techniques such as wash fastness, rub fastness, and photo degradation effect.

• To check for microbial contaminations after application of dye to a cotton fabric.

• To develop Pathangi crude as a paint for cellulose papers and to obtain several different colours using different mordants.

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Each student conducted standard methodologies

• Student 1- Extraction of the dye from the wood of Pathangi using different extraction

methods

• Student 2- Investigate the effect of incorporating Kora-Kaha leaves in the

extraction procedure

• Student 3- Determination of photo degradation effect

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• Student 4- Mordanting of clothes, dyeing of mordant clothes and solubility

tests for the crude extracts

• Student 5- Determine the growth of microbes after been applied to clothes

• Student 6- Development of the crude extract (concentrated) as paint

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Results• Extraction of the dye using different solvents.

- Best solvent- methanol

• Preparation of the crude of Pathangi

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• Determination of photo degradation.- Liquid extractions - After applied to clothes

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4

3

2

1

0

wavelength (nm)

Ab

sorb

ance

watermethanol

Colour degradation

highest- water extraction

Lowest- methanol extraction

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• Mordanting of clothes

Best mordant- a mixture of alum (Potassium Aluminium Sulphate) &cream of tartar (Potassium hydrogen tartrate)

Colour fainting has been minimized using mordants

Non mordent clothes Mordent clothes

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• Discolouration and visible signs of microbial growth

- No colonies or discolouration patches on dyed clothes

• Development of the Pathangi crude as paint.

Different colours were obtained using different mordants

Mordant used Colour of the crude.

Alum Maroon/deep red

CuSO4 Dark Brown

FeSO4 Brown

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What we have gained..??

Group Work• How to work as a team

• How to face challenges

• Work within given time duration

• How to deal with others

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Acknowledgement

• Our supervisors, Dr.S.Ranwala and Dr.P.S.Saputhanthri, senior lecturers, Department of Plant Sciences

• All other lecturers, demonstrators & non academic staff of Department of Plant Sciences

• Biodiversity secretariat - Wickramasinghepura, Athul Kotte

• Our dear parents

• All of our colleagues

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Thank You