ABSTRACT
The research entitled Exploration and extraction of colouring substances from herbs for use as dyes on cotton fabrics in Lokoja, Nigeria was designed to explore improved methods, for extraction of dyes in powdery form for the purpose of preserving the dyes from selected local herbs in Lokoja, Nigeria, using organic solvents. The aim of this study was to explore experimentally quantitative and qualitative extracts from local herbs with a view to initiate indigenous solution at producing cost effective dyes that will be affordable to textile designers. One of the objectives of the study was to identify and collect dye-yielding herbs that are found within Lokoja environment. It also focuses on answering such pertinent questions as: what is the extent of research verification of herbs within Lokoja environment that prove to be adequate as textile dye yielding substance? The findings from the study revealed that dyes of good quality were extracted from the local herbs.By using Soxhlet extraction (hot extraction), maceration and extraction through boiling with water methods. The result showed that maceration (That is, cool method of extraction) was the best method for extraction of herbs, based on the fact that the process did not involve heating before dyeing processes, along with the process of carrying out washing and colour fastness tests. The type of colours extracted from the local herbs included various shades of yellow and khaki brown discovered from the root of terminalia glaucescens (white Afara). The type of mordant used to aid colour fastness of the dye extracts, were mordants (chemicals) such as sodium chloride, copper II sulphate, alum, Iron, wood ash, potassium di-chromite on cotton fabric to ascertain their usability. Conclusively the results of the experiments performed and findings indicated that alum, potash, wood ash are suitable local additives for herbs dyeing, while the best mordanting techniques for them is 'pre-mordant', or mordant - with. It is therefore recommended that with the various shades of dyes produced from the herbs, it makes free lancing by resist dyer easy to accomplish and setting up small scale industries.