The revival of natural dyes

Book monograph describes the history all fields of application classification chemical structure plant and animal raw materials from which natural dyes are extracted their coloristic and therapeutic properties. Up to the middle of the 19th century man has been using natural dyes for dyeing textiles leather fur and paper since time immemorial. The first synthetic dye appeared in 1854 after which a powerful branch of chemistry - the aniline dye industry - was formed. Natural dyes have been almost completely superseded by synthetic ones. This lasted until quite recently when man again turned to natural materials and natural dyes as well. Natural dyes unlike toxic synthetic ones are not only harmless to nature and mankind but they also have antimicrobial and therapeutic properties and are nowadays used not only in traditional colours but also in new fields (solar panels replacing toxic synthetic dyes).