Extraction and Utilization of Natural Dyestuffs from the Bark of Whistling Pine and the Root of African Peach

Aims: This work is aimed at assessing the dye and colouring potentials of the extracts from the bark of whistling pine and the root of African peach. It is intended to apply these extracts for textile dyeings, drink and food colourings.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria, between October, 2012 and March, 2013.
Methodology: The bark of the plant, whistling pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) and the root of African Peach (Nauclea latifolia) were collected, chopped, dried and pulverized. The dye extracts were obtained using ethanol (absolute) as extracting solvent. The crude dye extracts were recrystallized in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for purification. The percentage yields, melting points, pH and Rf values, UV/visible absorptions and IR spectra were determined. Textile (cotton) dyeings, wash and light fastness tests, drink (local gin) and food (pap) colourings were performed.
Results: Whistling pine bark yielded reddish brown colour while the root of African peach yielded brown colour. They gave respectively 13.67% and 9.26% yield, pH values of 5.93 and 5.67, M.pt. of 194ºC and 210ºC, Rf values of 0.84 and 0.64. The dyeings showed varied colour shades, poor wash and light fastness on cotton fabrics.
Conclusion: The two dye plants produced fine colours on textile, food and drink. The poor wash and light fastness of dyed fabrics improved with mordanting.