SUSTAINABLE DYEING OF TEXTILE FIBER WITH ACTIVE BACTERIAL PIGMENT

Biocolorants are pigments extracted from microorganisms that may replace synthetic dyes used in textile industry for different purposes. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the only natural source of pyocyanin (PYO), a bioactive molecule that may add functionality to textile materials. In this study, 84.7 mg of PYO was extracted from the strain P. aeruginosa TGC04 and samples of 100% cotton jersey were dyed by the exhaustion method (500 and 1000 µg.mL-1 of PYO), using NaHCO3 as a mordant. There was approximately 65% absorption by the biocolorant in the fiber, producing a grayish-blue color. Both concentrations of the biocolorant exhibited antimicrobial activity against three human pathogens, reducing growth by 65 to 76%. PYO should be explored as a potential alternative for functional coloration, suggesting that investments should be made both to optimize dyeing and to ensure the stability of the biocolorant in the fiber.