Abstract New natural dye extracted from red prickly pear was used for dyeing wool with different
types of mordents. The effect of mordant concentration on the color strength was discussed; the
results obtained indicated that the color strength decreases with the increase of mordant concentration.
The effect of the dye bath pH, salt concentration, dyeing temperature and dyeing time was also
studied. The color strength and the dye uptake have exhibited high values. Good fastness properties
of the dyed fabric were achieved.
Antimicrobial activity of wool fabric dyed with this dye was tested according to diffusion agented.
Test organisms as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subitilus, Pseudomons aeruginosa and Staphylococcus
aureus were used and the results indicated that the samples exhibited a high inhibition zone.
According to the available literature, this is the first report concerning a natural dye for fabric
from fruits of red prickly pear plants.