Wool samples were dyed with a vinyl sulfone dye in the presence of thiourea and H2O2 under a variety of conditions. Increasing the H2O2 concentration from 2.5 mmole/l. to 20 mmole/l. caused a significant enhancement in the rate of the dyeing, whereas increasing the thiourea concentration from 1.25 mmole/l. to 10 mmole/l. brought about an increase in the rate of dyeing. Further increase in the thiourea concentration (i.e., up to 15 mmole/l.) caused a significant decrease in the rate of dyeing. Raising the dyeing bath temperature from 30°C to 70°C accelerated appreciably the rate of dye uptake. With respect to dye concentration, complete exhaustion occurred at dye concentrations of 0.5% and 1% (owf) when dyeing was performed at 70°C and pH 6 over a duration of 2 hr. This contrasts with 90% and 55% exhaustion for dye concentrations of 3% and 5% (owf), respectively. The rate of dyeing obtained at different pH's follows the order pH 2 < pH 4 < pH 6 < pH 8. A dye fixation of approximately 68%, 64%, and 50% could be achieved at pH 4, 6, and 8, respectively, if dyeing was performed at 70°C for 2 hr in a bath containing a dye concentration of 3% (owf) in the presence of thiourea (10 mmole/l.) and H2O2 (15 mmole/l.). The mechanism of dyeing is believed to be grafting by vinyl addition to wool radical formed under the influence of the decomposition products of thiourea and H2O2. Evidence of this mechanism is presented.
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Hebeish et al. (1978) studied this question.