Process for dyeing and printing or optical brightening of cellulose materials

Abstract

Described is a process for the semi-continuous or continuous dyeing and printing or optical brightening of cellulose materials by impregnation of the material with an aqueous liquor or printing paste containing at least one fibre-reactive dyestuff or fibre-reactive optical brightener, wherein subsequent to impregnation, fixing of the dyestuff or optical brightener is performed in a salt-free single-phase bath containing at least one alcohol and alkali and optionally water. By this process there are obtained dyed or optically brightened cellulose materials having fastness properties equivalent to those obtained in the conventional manner. An advantage of the present process, in contrast to the usual processes, is that the waste water is not polluted by large amounts of salt.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.