Optimisation of Reactive Dyeing Parameters for Silk Fabric Processing in Small-Scale Enterprises in Ogun State

Silk fabric processing in South West Nigeria has gained commercial traction with increased domestic demand for luxury woven textiles for traditional attire and fashion. This study optimises reactive dyeing parameters for silk fabric processing in small-scale dyeing enterprises in Ogun State, evaluating the influence of dye concentration, salt concentration, alkali type, and temperature on dyeing quality outcomes. Silk fabrics were dyed with bifunctional reactive dyes at temperatures of 50, 60, and 70 degrees Celsius using sodium sulphate concentrations of 40, 60, and 80 g/L, and sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate as alternative alkali sources. Colour strength expressed as K/S ratio, wash fastness, and perspiration fastness were assessed. Response surface methodology was applied to identify the optimal combination of process variables. Results indicate that 60 degrees Celsius with 60 g/L sodium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate as alkali produced maximum colour strength with K/S values of 22.6, avoiding the fibre damage associated with strong alkali at elevated temperatures. Wash fastness ratings of 4 to 5 were achieved under optimised conditions. Perspiration fastness in both acidic and alkaline conditions rated at 4 on the grey scale. Response surface models showed statistically significant interactions between temperature and alkali type variables. The study provides an optimised dyeing recipe suitable for small-scale silk processors in Ogun State, contributing to quality improvement and dye utilisation efficiency in the South West Nigerian luxury textile sector. Keywords: silk fabric, reactive dyeing, response surface methodology, dyeing optimisation, Ogun State