Application of ozone gas for the stripping of fabric ink-jet-printed with reactive dyes

In this study, a novel process utilizing ozone was carried out for colour stripping of fabrics misprinted with reactive dyes in ink-jet machines. The results of ozone applications were compared with conventional colour stripping process performed by thiourea dioxide (TUDO) and soda ash. In trials, cotton-based and viscose-based woven fabrics were used as these fabrics were the most utilized at the textile mill in which this study was performed. Different ozone treatment times (30, 45, 60 or 90 min) were tested to find optimum process time and it was found that process times depended on fabric type. Particularly, colour stripping on high density and thick fabrics were harder than low density and thin fabric types. Fabric strengths, whiteness indexes and chemical oxygen demand (COD) values were measured. Also energy, chemical and water consumptions were calculated. Consequently, it was found that the reduction of the COD value of effluent was up to 98%. The calculations showed that the savings in time and cost in ozone treatment were up to 77%. Satisfactory colour stripping and tensile strengths were achieved. Akbaşlar Tekstil Enerji San. ve Tic. A.Ş.