Determination of two reactive dyes concentration in dyed cotton fabric

The purpose of this paper was to determine the unknown concentration of dichlortriazinyl reactive dyes, namely Reactive Yellow 22 and Reactive Blue 163, in dyed cotton fabric. The samples of cotton fabric were dyed individually with each dye as well as with a mixture of two dyes. The unknown concentrations of dyes were determined by measuring the corresponding reflectance values of dyed fabric samples and then using the relation between the concentration and reflectance values of the samples. The method set by Kubelka and Munk was used. The accuracy and repeatability of the concentrations determination were calculated by the statistical processing of the data obtained by measurements. Relative errors of individual determination of Reactive Yellow 22 and Reactive Blue 163 were 3.66% and 5.94% respectively. Relative errors in determination of Reactive Yellow 22 and Reactive Blue 163 in a mixture were 3.47% and 3.19% respectively. The results showed that reflectance spectrophotometry can be successfully used as the method for concentration determination of Reactive Yellow 22 and Reactive Blue 163 in dyed cotton fabric and can therefore be applied as the shade control method in dyeing.