Evaluation of the dyeing mechanism of an acid dye on protein fibers in supercritical CO2

The dyeing mechanism of an acid dye on protein fibers in supercritical CO2 has been investigated. The reverse micellar system comprising pentaethylene glycol n-octyl ether (C8E5)/1-pentanol has been applied for the solubilization of an acid dye and the subsequent dyeing of protein fibers in supercritical CO2. Quantitative measurements of the concentrated dye fluid in supercritical CO2 Could be achieved by the application of integrated Lambert-Beer method. It has been found that the differences of the pressure in the system have great influence on the molar extinction coefficient (e) of an acid dye solubilized in the interior of the reverse micelle in supercritical CO2. Adsorption manner of an acid dye on protein fibers in supercritical CO2 was similar to that in an aqueous system and followed a Langmuir manner. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.