Dyeing of chemically modified cellulose. IV. Dyeing of oxidized celluloses with some reactive and direct dyes

Oxidation of cotton cellulose with potassium periodate, potassium dichromate‐sulfuric acid, and potassium dichromate‐oxalic acid results in creation of variable amounts of acidic and reducing groups along the cellulose molecule, being dependent upon the type of oxidizing agent used. Such groups were found to have a profound effect on the acceptability of cellulose for reactive and direct dyes. The rate and extent of dye uptake for the oxidized celluloses were significantly lower than those of the unoxidized cellulose. While presence of the acidic groups in cellulose molecules induces a negative environment thereby making approach of the dye anions to the cellulose difficult, presence of the reducing groups lowers the magnitude of cellulose reactivity as well as decreasing its adsorptive power. Further modification of the oxidized celluloses via either borohydride or chlorous acid treatment brought about modified celluloses the dyeability of which confirms the inhibiting effect of the acidic and reducing groups of those oxidized celluloses on the rate and extent of dyeing with reactive and direct dyes.