Red Beet (beta vulgaris l.) dyes as colorants for cellulose pulp and papers

A study about the colouring of cellulose pulp and photocopier paper by beetroot (or red beet) betalains has been carried out in this research. Cellulose pulp of 10% consistency was made entirely from cellulose filter paper and coloured using shaking without any additives and after pre-mordanting with mordants and surfactants. Direct soaking was researched as a further method of colouring ; Navigator paper and filter paper made of pure cellulose were coloured. Spectrometric analysis has shown that direct soaking is a much more efficient colouring method than colouring during paper making. Beetroot dyes bind with cellulose fibre, but the betacyanins, which are reddish to violet dyes, have great affinity to water and are easily washed out with water. Betaxanthin dyes, which are yellowish to orange, bind with cellulose fibres with higher attractive forces.