The Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Hypochlorite Oxidizing Treatments on the Color Properties of Naturally Colored Green Cotton

Abstract

Ali Serkan Soydan1, Arzu Yavaş1, Osman Ozan Avinç1, Gizem Karakan Günaydın2, M. Niyazi Kıvılcım3, Mehmet Demirtaş3, Sema Palamutcu*11 Pamukkale University, Textiles Engineering Department, Denizli, Turkey2 Pamukkale University, Buldan Vocational School, Buldan, Denizli, Turkey3 Cotton Research Institute, Nazilli, Aydın, Turkey*Corresponding Author email: [email protected] cultivation of naturally colored cotton has captured the attention lately due to the increasing environmental concerns and problems. The green color in cotton fibers is owing to a lipid biopolymer (suberin) sandwiched between the lamellae of cellulose microfibrils in the secondary wall. Naturally colored green cotton fiber does not need dyeing or coloration process due to their inherent color characteristics leading to more ecological and sustainable textile production. Naturally colored cotton growers and producers have less requirement for the pesticides, insecticides since these varieties have already insect and disease-resistant qualities as well as they exhibit property for drought and salt tolerant leading to more environmental friendly cotton fiber production. The colorimetric (CIE L*, a*, b*, C*, ho, K/S etc.) properties of studied naturally green colored Turkish cotton fiber were explored before and after scouring (with NaOH), and oxidizing processes with hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite (with different sodium hypochlorite concentrations and different oxidizing treatment periods and at different pH levels, with or without scouring process as a precursor treatment etc.) in comparison with their greige (un-treated) counterpart. The application of scouring process with NaOH to naturally green colored cotton fiber increases the color yield levels leading to darker appearance. Similarly, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite oxidizing processes resulted in an increase in the color yield levels of naturally green colored cotton fibers leading to darker appearance. Even at high sodium hypochlorite concentrations such as 200 ml/l at pH 12 and room temperature for 48 hours, the naturally green colored cotton fibers maintain their color.