Haematoxylin sorption onto yak hair: kinetic and thermodynamic studies

The kinetic and thermodynamic behaviours of haematoxylin sorption onto yak hair as a model system were investigated. It was found that the sorption kinetics of haematoxylin on hair followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The equilibrium sorption capacity increased as the temperature increased from 303 to 313 K, but dropped gradually as the temperature increased beyond 313 K. The maximum equilibrium sorption capacity was 24.04 mg g−1 at T = 313 K. Meanwhile, the sorption isotherm data were ingood agreement with the Freundlich isotherm, presenting high coefficients (R2 > 0.99). The free energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS) terms for haematoxylin dyeing were also determined, the negative values of ΔG and ΔH obtained indicated that the haematoxylin dye sorption process is a spontaneous and an exothermic one. Also, positive values of ΔS showed an increase in disorder of the system of haematoxylin sorption onto hair. Haematoxylin could be a good candidate as a natural green dye for hair fibre.