Application of chromatographic techniques for determination of azo dyes and theirs degradation products in consumer goods

Corresponding author: Małgorzata MOŚCIPAN – Ph.D., e-mail: [email protected] textiles Information on the earliest textiles date back to Neolithic period (about 5000 BC) and theirs examples, mainly in the form of ancient people relicts have been found in Africa and Peru. However, the form of textiles at that time differed form that contemporary one. At the beginning grasses, creepers, branches and straps of animal skins have been braided creating not large plaits. The first evidences for thin linen, cotton, wool and silk fabric existence have been found in Ancient Egypt (about XXVII-XXII BC) mostly in painting form and mentions about flax utilization by Ancient Egyptians [1]. Ancient people used chemicals to enhance textiles colours, moreover, they used dyes for decorating purpose which has significant role in society. Animal skins protected from heat, cold and rain were worn directly or processed with natural chemicals of both vegetable (e.g. indigo, curcuma, Rubia tinctorum) and animal origin (e.g. carminic acid, Tyrian red). Natural dyes characterize very beautiful colours and most of them show high durability of light exposition which is best proven by e.g. old carpets and tapestry which colour survived many centuries without being damaged [1]. The second half of the XIXth century supported by industrial revolution in Europe and outside it, become the breakthrough in synthetic dyes commercialization area. First synthetic dyes fuchsine (synthesized in 1855 by J. Natanson) and mauveine (obtained in 1856 by W. Perkin during work on quinine) have caused the development of the most numerous synthetic dyes group which three years later were named azo dyes due to P. J. Greiss diazo compounds discovery in 1858 [2]. Nowadays, the cheaper and easier to use synthetic dyes are used. More than 3⁄4 of dyes production consume the textile industry, additionally, leather, paper, plastics, printing, cosmetics and construction. Dyes are also used in analytical chemistry as indicators.