EVALUATION OF AFTERTREATMENTS FOR REUSING REACTIVE DYES

The use of reactive dyes has increased rapidly due to outstanding prop erties, growing consumption of cellulosic fibers, and decrease in the production of other application classes of dyes for cellulosics becaus e of cost and health hazards. However, reactive dyes cause the greates t effluent problems for the dye industry. This study explored reusing these dyes in which the residual dyeings were done using application p rocedures and aftertreatments suitable for direct dyes, rather than co nventional methods for applying reactive dyes. Both exhaust and pad ap plication procedures for reusing the reactive dyes were investigated. The residual or laboratory-hydrolyzed reactives were applied using pro cedures for direct dyes, then aftertreated with fixing agents. The dep th of shade and colorfastness to washing and light of the dyes and aft ertreated specimens were then evaluated.