Investigation of kombucha tea as a colourant and biomordant

Purpose This study aims to investigate for the first time the potential use of kombucha tea in textile applications as both a natural dye and an environmentally friendly biomordant. Design/methodology/approach This study used fabrics composed of 75% cotton and 25% polyester. These fabrics were pre-mordanted with kombucha tea at four different concentrations and with potassium aluminium sulphate, a traditional chemical. The samples were then dyed with madder root (Rubia tinctorum L.) and kombucha tea, and the colour characteristics (L*, a*, b*, K/S), rubbing and washing fastness, UV protection factors (UPF) and antioxidant (DPPH and TPC) activities of the resulting outputs were analysed using standard methods. Findings Kombucha tea imparts more vibrant and yellowish orange-yellow tones to fabrics compared to potassium aluminium sulphate; while improving colour yield and rubbing fastness, it also provides enhanced antioxidant activity and UV protection (UPF 23.45). Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the potential of kombucha tea as a sustainable, multifunctional natural dye and biomordant in textile finishing processes, which has not been documented in the literature before.