Utilization of Terminalia chebula Retz. fruits pericarp as a source of natural dye for textile applications

Abstract

Terminalia chebula Retz. (Hindi-Harra), Family-Combretaceae, Trade name-Myrobalan, fruits pericarp powder was taken for the utilization as a dye. The dried fruits constitute one of the most important vegetable tanning materials and have been used in India for a long time. This paper describes the isolation of dye from its fruit pericarp (36.24 %) which can impart fast shades on silk, wool and cotton using alum, copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, potassium dichromate and stannous chloride as mordants with varying degree of colorfastness to washing (4-5), light (4-5), crocking (4-5) and perspiration (4-5). The fruit pericarp may thus find its use for the isolation of dye and is an excellent value addition of the available raw material.