Non-aqueous textile dyeing

Non-aqueous textile dyeing technologies have attracted growing interest as sustainable alternatives to conventional water-based dyeing, driven by increasing freshwater scarcity, environmental pollution, and the need to transition toward circular manufacturing models. By replacing water with alternative solvents, non-aqueous dyeing offers significant potential to reduce water consumption, minimize effluent generation, and lower overall energy demand. This review critically examines the motivations, advantages, and limitations of major non-aqueous dyeing approaches, spanning commercially established technologies such as dope/spin dyeing and supercritical CO 2 dyeing, as well as emerging solvent-based systems. Fundamental colloidal and interfacial phenomena governing dye solubilization/dispersion, adsorption, diffusion, and fixation are discussed as key determinants of dyeing performance in non-aqueous media. By integrating textile chemistry with colloid and interface science, this review highlights how solvent selection, interfacial control, and closed-loop recovery improve efficiency, sustainability, and industrial feasibility, while outlining key challenges and future directions for wider adoption of non-aqueous dyeing.