SUSTAINABLE DYEING OF POLYESTER FABRICS USING NATURAL SOURCE (COCOS NUCIFERA PEEL) EXTRACT: EVALUATION OF COLORATION AND FASTNESS

Abstract

Coconut peel-extracted dyes were used to dye polyester fabric at concentrations of 2%, 3%, and 4%, with an alum mordant and vinegar, and without a mordant. The dyeing was performed at 135 °C and the characterization of extracted colorant, color-fastness properties—including color fastness to washing, light, and perspiration—were evaluated. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze chemical interactions of the dyed samples and the surface morphology. The purpose of this study is to examine the durability and dyeing process of polyester fabrics dyed using a natural dye made from coconut peel. By evaluating coconut peel extract as a feasible natural dye source, the study promotes the development of environmentally acceptable, sustainable alternatives to synthetic dyes. The utilization of coconut peel, an underutilized agricultural waste, as a sustainable natural dye for polyester—a fabric that typically has a low affinity for natural dyes—is novel in this study. The work provides fresh insights into enhancing the performance of natural dyes on synthetic textiles by comparing vinegar and alummordants and analyzing dye uptake at high temperatures. Coconut peel extract can serve as an efficient, environmentally acceptable dyesource for sustainable polyester dyeing, as evidenced by FT-IR and SEM analyses of chemical interactions and surface morphology.