Application of the natural dye obtained from Curcuma longa in the textile and paper sector for handicraft products

Abstract

Turmeric is an herbaceous perennial plant (Curcuma longa) that reaches a height of up to one meter. It has highly branched, cylindrical, aromatic rhizomes that range in color from yellow to orange. The extract of this plant is used as a food coloring in two forms: as turmeric (crude extract), classified under the European Union food code as E-100ii, which is yellow and extracted from the root of the plant; and as curcumin (purified or refined form); both forms are generally referred to as turmeric. The objective of this work was to use this natural colorant in the textile and paper industries to obtain handcrafted products. For the textile application, cotton fiber was used, employing a pre-mordanting method, which involves mordanting the fiber before dyeing. A mordant of 25% aluminum potassium sulfate was used, based on the weight of the fiber. The dye was extracted by macerating turmeric (15% by weight of the fiber) for six days under refrigeration, followed by heating for 30 minutes. The mixture was then dyed by adding fiber and dye to water, heating it for 30 minutes, and letting it rest for another 30 minutes. The resulting fabric was used to create butterfly wings on a canvas. For the paper, pulp was made from recycled paper to which 30% turmeric by weight was added. Wooden frames were used to produce the sheets, which were then pressed and left to dry for six days, after which they were ironed to complete the drying process. The resulting sheets were used to make a pocket notebook. As a result in the textile and paper area, both fibers colored with turmeric (cotton and recycled paper) obtained uniform and intense yellow tones, resulting in attractive artisanal products for the consumer.