Storage Stability of Extracted Dye from the Surface of Polyester Fabric in Non Aqueous Cleaning Solvents

This research work focused on extracting dye from the surface of dyed polyester fabric and also investigates the effect of exposing the extracted dye solution to diffused light and changes in temperature which are common processes in dry cleaning industries. This is to establish the stability of the extracted dye in non aqueous solvents. Two commonly used dry cleaning solvents- perchloroethylene (PCE) and tetrachloromethane (TCM) were used to extract disperse blue 1 dye from the surface of dyed polyester fabric obtained from a previous work. The storage stability of the extracted dye at room temperature in diffused light as well as thermal stability at 20°C, 30°C and 50°C in the two solvents is reported. The daily visual check on the colour of the extracted dye solution on exposure to diffused light for a period of 14 days was found to be stable for 5 days in PCE while it lasted for 9 days in TCM before fading. Spectrophotometry analysis of the extracted dye solution was found to be thermally stable in TCM at the various temperatures used for the experiment relative to PCE where concentration of the extracted dye was found to decrease. The results obtained therefore serves as useful standard for choosing suitable solvents during dry cleaning of dyed fabrics to prevent adverse effects on the aesthetic nature of the fabric surface dye.