Dyeing of Jute Fabric with Natural Dye Extracted from Annatto

Greige jute fabric was scoured and bleached to produce white absorbent jute fabric dyeable with natural annatto dye extract. Extraction of natural dye and application to jute fabric is found to be optimal in alkaline medium. Mordants like myrobolan, pomegranate, and ferrous sulfate had their inherent color, whereas potash alum was colorless. Mordanting improved the color yield, compared to control fabric, when dyeing with natural annatto dye extract under alkaline conditions. Double mordanting using myrobolan and ferrous sulfate produced optimal color yield. In all cases, post-mordanting with chemical mordants resulted in higher color yield and fastness properties. Two-step dyeing following both direct and acid dyeing methods produced the best color yield and fastness properties.