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Innovative room temperature silk dyeing by Rubia cordifolia natural dye.This is the first report where Rubia stem extract have been shown as a source of natural dye used in conjunction with enzymes. The most important innovation is the development of low temperature (room temperature) dyeing. The above experiments showed that enzymatic treatment can yield good colour strength to silk fabric using Rubia as a dye source and has good potential for commercial dyeing. It is a non-toxic dye. Use of enzymes were deliberate attempt to avoid metal mordanting in silk dyeing as it would make textile dyeing more ecofriendly. The order of reactivity of enzymes in one step process was found to be Protease Phytase XylanaseAmylase Pectinase. Similarly for two step dyeing process the order of reactivity of enzymes in two step process observed was ProteaseAmylase Xylanase= Pectinase Phytase. Protease enzyme was the best option in both the cases. Overall it can be concluded that in the case of enzymic treatment, the two step process was better in terms of larger K/S values, Colour coordinate values and dye adherence.

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Dr Padma S. VankarDid Ph. D in Oct´ 1986 from Chemistry Department, IIT Kanpur, Worked in the Area of Natural dyeing for the past 20 years. Published more than 150 research papers in the area of natural dyes. Has published 5 books on Natural dyeing. Has a patent on natural dye usage in DNA staining.Several innovations in the area of Natural dyes.

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