Vlad Rotaru

The beetroot peels can be a sustainable source of betalains that can dye the wool materials through green processes based on low water and energy consumption. Green chemistry in the extraction of betalains from colored food waste/peels from red beetroot involved the use of water as a solvent, without other additives. In order for the extract obtained to be able to dye the wool, it was necessary to functionalize betalains or even the wool. Three types of sustainable functionalizations were performed, with (1) acetic acid; (2) ethanol; and (3) arginine. For each functionalization, the mechanism that can justify dyeing the wool in intense colors was elucidated. The characterization of the extract was performed with the data provided by UV-VIS and HPLC-MS analyses. The characterization of the wool dyed with the extract obtained from the red beetroot peels was possible due to the information resulting from the FTIR and CIELab analyses. The functionalizations of betalains and wool in acid environments lead to the most intense red colors. The color varies depending on the pH and the concentration of betalains.

This study may open a new way to obtain the coloration of a polymer during functionalization. Two polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymers in the form of textile fibers (Melana and Dralon L) were subjected to functionalization treatments in order to improve the dyeing capacity. The functionalizations determined by an organo-hypervalent iodine reagent developed in situ led to fiber coloration without using dyes. KIO₃ was formed in situ from the interaction of aqueous solutions of 3–9% KOH with 3–9% I₂, at 120 °C. The yellow-orange coloration appeared as a result of the transformations in the chemical structure of each functionalized polymer, with the formation of iodinehydrin groups. The degree of functionalization directly influenced the obtained color. The results of the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Map and Temogravimetric Analysis (TG) plus Differential Thermal (DTA) analyses indicated the presence of new functional groups, such as iodine-oxime. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the change of the crystalline/amorphous ratio in favor of the former. The new groups introduced by functionalization make it possible to dye with classes of dyes specific to these groups, but not specific to PAN fibers, thus improving their dyeing capacity.

In the last years in the textile industry there is a tendency of orientation towards products with added value. Recent research in the field has shown that the field of aroma therapeutic products is constantly growing due to their advantages: they are environmentally friendly and have beneficial effects on human health and well-being feeling. The present work aims to test the degree of acceptance and potential of aroma textiles (antimicrobial patches, flavoring sheets, anti-cellulite tights and flavoring sportswear) on the market. This research is a market study and comprises two studies: frequency analysis for each variable (22 variables were selected) and verification of working hypotheses (4 hypotheses were chosen) by analysis of variance – One-way ANOVA method. As a quantitative research method, the survey was used and a questionnaire with 26 questions as methodological tool was used. The results of this survey are based on the information provided by the respondents from North-East Romania. The answers included in the survey reflect what the respondents stated. In this study, the following significant aspects were highlighted: high confidence in aroma therapeutic products; the Romanians increasingly prefer textile products with added value, for their health benefits; most interviewees are willing to pay more for textile products with a relaxing effect.