Applied Chemical Engineering

Comparative Natural Dyeing and Bioactive Finishing of Cotton with Three Plant Extracts under FeSO₄ Fixation

Mo Li

Chakrabongse Bhuvanarth International College of Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS), Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-Ok, Bangkok, Thailand 10400

Manus KAEWBUCHA

Chakrabongse Bhuvanarth International College of Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS), Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-Ok, Bangkok, Thailand 10400

Chalisa APIWATHNASORN

Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand 12110

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i3.6055

Keywords: anthocyanins; plant polyphenols; eco-friendly coloration; mordanting; bioactive finishing; ultraviolet protection; antioxidant fabric; antibacterial textile

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Abstract

Plant-derived colorants can combine textile coloration with bioactive finishing, but controlled comparisons among chemically distinct plant extracts on a common substrate remain limited. This study compared extracts from Lycium ruthenicum fruit, Broussonetia papyrifera fruit, and Rhodiola rosea root on a standardized plain-woven cotton substrate. Source-specific aqueous-ethanol extraction was followed by dyeing at an equal dry-extract concentration, and dyed fabrics were fixed with FeSO₄ for colour, fastness, and functional evaluation. Colour properties, washing/rubbing/light/perspiration fastness, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), fabric antioxidant activity, and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were evaluated. L. ruthenicum produced the deepest red-purple shade and the highest FeSO₄-assisted colour strength (K/S = 6.8), followed by B. papyrifera (4.6) and R. rosea(3.7). Under the common FeSO₄ fixation condition, the three extracts produced distinct colour and functional profiles, with L. ruthenicum showing the strongest overall performance. The antibacterial and antioxidant values represent the net response of the complete FeSO₄-fixed extract–cotton systems because separate extract-only and fixative-only controls were not included. These results support the potential of the tested plant sources for multifunctional cotton treatment while limiting the conclusions to the evaluated fixation route and initial performance conditions.

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