Waste extracts from forest plants and their application as natural coloring for fabrics

Wood wastes and tree barks are rich in natural coloring-pigments, such as tannin, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. If extracted, those compounds can be beneficial as coloring agents for fabrics. The research aimed to obtain yields of dry extracts from bark wastes of secang ( Caesalpinia sp.), bakau merah ( Rhizophora apiculata ), ketapang ( Terminalia sp.), and mangium ( Acacia mangium ); as well as from wood wastes of secang and ketapang. Wet extracts were obtained through waste extraction using pure water solvent with waste/water ratio 1:4 and 1:6 (w/v), each implementing of two temperatures (60°C and 70°C) and three long immersion treatments before extracting (0/control, 12, and 24 hours). The obtained wet extracts were applied for coloring the fabrics, followed with 3 fixation treatment, i.e. tawas, kapur tohor, and tunjung; and then tested for color-fastness resistance of fabrics against, i.e. washing, ironing, and sun ray referred to the SNI-ISO standards. The results indicated that bakau minyak barks extract brought out the fabric colors to the best result, and the yield dry extract was the highest. The natural coloring extracts of bakau minyak barks produced the best coloring performance of the fabrics against consecutive washing and sun-ray exposure, that is moderate until good (score 3-4), and the ironing results in good until very good (4-5). The yield dry extract of the barks was 28% after implementing 24 hours immersion in water before extraction, weight ratio between the extracted barks and water at 1:4 (w/v), and extraction temperature at 70°C.