Evaluating Sustainable Alternatives to Conventional Reduction Clearing in Polyester Dyeing

Area of Science:

• Textile Chemistry
• Sustainable Materials Science
• Environmental Engineering

Background:

• Polyester dyeing's post-treatment, reduction clearing (RC), is environmentally harmful.
• Growing demand for sustainable practices in the textile industry necessitates eco-friendly alternatives.
• Conventional RC agents like sodium hydrosulphite contribute to significant effluent pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance and environmental impact of conventional and green reduction clearing agents for polyester fabrics.
• To evaluate the efficacy of agents like Mega Clear, Prime Cleaner, and Sera Fast against sodium hydrosulphite.
• To assess the contribution of these agents to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 9 and SDG 12).

Main Methods:

• Polyester fabrics (filament and micro) dyed with red dye at 4% and 7% shade levels.
• Treatment with sodium hydrosulphite (conventional) and Mega Clear, Prime Cleaner, Sera Fast (green alternatives).
• Evaluation of color strength (K/S), color fastness (washing, rubbing), tensile strength, and effluent parameters (BOD, COD, TDS).

Main Results:

• Sodium hydrosulphite caused the greatest color strength reduction and tensile strength loss.
• Green agents, particularly Mega Clear, showed minimal color loss and reduced tensile strength degradation.
• Green agents (except Sera Fast) significantly reduced BOD, COD, and TDS in effluent, improving water quality.
• Color fastness ratings were comparable across agents, with minor variations in wet rubbing.

Conclusions:

• Green reduction clearing agents provide a sustainable alternative to conventional methods in polyester dyeing.
• These eco-friendly agents maintain fabric quality and significantly reduce the environmental footprint of textile wet processing.
• Adoption of green agents aligns with global sustainability goals by enhancing industrial innovation and reducing pollution.