APPLICATION OF DRIFT SPECTROSCOPY AND CHEMOMETRICS TO THE DISCRIMINATION OF DYE MIXTURES EXTRACTED FROM FIBERS FROM WORN CLOTHING

Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra were collected from microscopic amounts of dye mixtures (200-400 ng) extracted from s mall yam and filament samples obtained from selected areas of a number of worn polyester or polyester-blend garments. Pre-treated data matri ces were interpreted using several chemometric methods, viz., principa l component analysis and soft independent modelling of class analogies . These analyses showed that it is possible to discriminate and match the diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra of the dye extracts according to (i) the dye mixture and hence the source garment , (ii) the sampling area on the garment and the amount of soiling, and (iii) the degree of normal processing such as washing of a garment.