Catalytic Methods for Sustainable Textile Dyeing

Dyeing of fabrics is one of the most important finishing steps of the textile industry. Fixation of dye over the textile fabric using various chemicals may cause environmental pollution. Generally, the fixation process is highly dependent on the compatibility between fabric and dye. Alkali and salts through which chemical bonds between dyes and fabrics have been conventionally employed for fixing active dye species. Conventional methods have been made to be sustainable by the treatment of fibers with physical techniques including ultrasound, ultraviolet, plasma, and microwave treatments prior to dyeing. Catalytic fixation of dyes using mordants, surfactants, and crosslinkers has been recognized to be promising from a practical point of view. Micellar catalysis has been recently introduced as an efficient, environmentally friendly, and less water-consuming dye fixation protocol. In this chapter, the basic structures and properties of textile fabrics and dyes, the mechanism of fixation of various dyes on different fabrics, and practical examples of sustainable dye fixation are discussed.