Method of forming copper complexes of azo-dyestuffs using non-salt-forming copper (II) compounds

A method of directly producing a copperized azo-dyestuff composition of predetermined inert inorganic salt content, wherein the predetermined inert inorganic salt content is within plus or minus 10% of the salt content utilized in a standard strength, commercial composition of said copperized azo-dyestuff, which method comprises reacting

• a water soluble ortho, ortho'-dihydroxyazo-dyestuff, or reactive equivalent thereof, which is dissolved in aqueous solution containing inert inorganic salt, said inorganic salt being present in an amount equal to the predetermined amount or less than the predetermined amount by no more than 0.9 moles of salt per mole dyestuff, with
• about one molar equivalent of a copper (II) compound consisting of from 1.0 to 0.1 molar equivalent of non-salt-forming copper compound selected from CuCO.sub.3.Cu(OH).sub.2, 2CuCO.sub.3.Cu(OH).sub.2, Cu(OH).sub.2, CuO and mixtures thereof, and correspondingly from 0 to 0.9 molar equivalent of a salt-forming copper (II) compound selected from CuSO.sub.4, CuCl.sub.2 and Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2 so as not to increase the inorganic salt content of the aqueous solution beyond the predetermined amount, and
• drying the solution to obtain a copperized dyestuff/salt composition,
• wherein additional, inert inorganic salt is blended with either said dried dyestuff/salt composition or with said aqueous solution of dyestuff and salt prior to drying as needed to increase the total inorganic salt content of the copperized dyestuff composition to the predetermined amount.