GUINEA CORN (SORGHUM VULGARE): LEAVES A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF TEXTILE DYE FOR NATURAL AND MAN - MADE FABRICS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined colour shades, dye quantity and fastness properties of dye extracted from guinea corn leaf, (Sorghum vulgare) for the dyeing of natural and man-made fabric. The dye component extracted from sorghum vulgare was tested for washing and light fastness. The leaves were dried at room temperature for two weeks before drying in the oven at 60^oC for 2 hrs for easy blending to powder. Ethanol, Methanol and Acetone solvents were used for extraction at cold and hot conditions and Soxhlet methods. Three different yarn types were used as substrate: cotton, wool and polyester. The quantity of crude dye extracted using 200 gm of guinea corn leave powder and 250 ml of solvent for hot extraction is 1.53 gm and cold1.61 gm. with ethanol, methanol 0.98 gm (Hot) and 1.01 gm (Cold) and Acetone 0.92 gm (Hot) and 0.94 gm (cold).The sample colour was burgundy but with the solvent interaction and temperature the colours under hot condition (78^oC) ranges from dirty red to dull brown and under cold (23^oC) red brown to cartoon brown. Colour range test, L value under cold dyeing conditions, the real sample showed a lightness value of 10.62 and the controlled sample 11.12, indicating moderately dark shades. However, under hot dyeing conditions, these values dropped to 6.55 gm and 6.71gm respectively, at 40% reduction in lightness. Hot dyeing produced darker fabrics but, it diminished colour vibrancy. Redness values reduced by approximately 26% under hot conditions, while yellowness dropped by 58%. This inverse relationship suggests that Sorghum vulgare contains multiple colour components with different temperature requirements.