Eco-friendly Polyester Reduction Clearing: Examining Cutting-edge Approaches

Review Article

Adv Res Text Eng. 2024; 9(3): 1103.

Eco-friendly Polyester Reduction Clearing: Examining Cutting-edge Approaches

Manjiri Paranjape; Ashok Athalye*

Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India

*Corresponding author: Ashok Athalye. Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India. Email: ar.athalye@ictmumbai.edu.in

Received: November 28, 2024; Accepted: December 19, 2024; Published: December 26, 2024

Abstract

This study focuses on eco-friendly alternatives and innovations in the reduction-clearing process after polyester coloration. The conventional alkalinereductive method is effective but has environmental drawbacks, including Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and the release of harmful by-products such as sulfites and sulfates. This article reviews alternative reducing agents, such as formamidine sulfinate and hydroxy acetone, which show improved stability and biodegradability compared to sodium dithionite. Additionally, natural surfactants, like glucose derivatives, cationic surfactants, and ethoxylated castor oil, are explored to reduce environmental impacts. Furthermore, innovative techniques like ozone and plasma treatments present promising substitutes for the reduction clearing process, showing comparable or superior wash fastness and color properties while significantly lowering water, chemical, and energy consumption. Adopting such alternatives can enhance environmental safety, process efficiency, and the economic viability of polyester dyeing in the textile industry.

Keywords: Natural Surfactants; Enzyme; Polyester coloration; Reduction clearing; Sustainable alternatives

Introduction

Reduction Clearing is a traditional process carried out after the dyeing of polyester. It is an after-treatment carried out to remove the unfixed dye and other impurities from the fabric's surface. The dye molecules move from a higher concentration to a lower concentration. This is accomplished when the dye molecules' rates of entry into the fabric and exit into the solution equal one another. Most dyeing operations are halted commercially before they achieve this thermodynamic equilibrium. Thus, whenever the dyeing process is stopped, there will be a number of dye molecules that will not have penetrated the textile substrate. These molecules may remain on the surface of the textile, or some of these dye molecules may remain trapped in the spaces between fibers or yarns, depending upon the type of substrate being used. These loosely held dye molecules will come off later, especially when the textile is used regulalry. This superficial dye may also adversely affect the brightness of the shade. Therefore, a wash-off process is required after dyeing [1].

Polyester is the most widely consumed man-made fiber. It is generally dyed using Disperse dyes. These dyes have two prominent characteristics: (i) Limited water solubility and (ii) A tendency to form aggregates. This restricts the removal of the superficial dyes, creating a demand for a rigorous wash-off process. Reducing agents like sodium dithionite are used to achieve optimum fastness in dyed polyester [2].

Significance of Reduction Clearing

Traditional reduction clearing has been carried out since the 1950s as an after-treatment for dyed polyester. It is often considered a necessary evil in many dyeing processes, especially for medium and dark shades. The process consists of a treatment for 15 minutes at 70°C to 100°C using sodium hydroxide, a detergent, and sodium dithionite as a reducing agent. The process is observed to have improved fastness properties and is important for removing the formed oligomers. The surface deposits of these oligomers remain undyed by Disperse dyes and remain firmly attached to the fiber, hence appearing as a white dusting powder on the fibers and some parts of the machine [3]. These deposits also function as centres for the nucleation of Disperse dyes in optimum conditions, leading to destabilisation of the dispersion. They also affect the frictional properties of the yarns. Moreover, unlike the simple wash-off process, these oligomer deposits are not water soluble and require an effective method for their removal.

Factors Affecting Reduction Clearing

Many factors affect the reduction-clearing process. The type of substrate used (yarn, fiber or fabric), which subsequently influences the dyeing method, mechanism, and equipment to be used, is one of the initial factors to be considered. The depth of shade of the dye used is also important. As the dyed shade's concentration increases, there is more surface deposition. This makes reduction clearing necessary for shades of medium and higher depths. Another parameter to consider is the production type (lab scale or bulk), which influences the fastness properties.

Mechanism of reduction clearing

The reduction clear procedure eliminates excess dye and dyeing auxiliaries (such as surfactants, carrier residues, and migration inhibitors) without changing the dye's color. To remove the surface deposited dye, carrier, etc., without harming the dye that is adsorbed within the fiber, the procedure depends on polyester's notable hydrophobicity, which stops aqueous agents from accessing the substrate at temperatures lower than the commercial boil [4].

It is believed that when azo dispersion dyes are treated with the reducing agent's aqueous alkaline solution, the chromophore is destroyed, producing the following colorless amino compounds: