The removal of the color of dye from wastewaters is one of the main problems of the textile industry for both colorists and manufacturers. In this study, ozone gas was used to decolorize the reactive dye effluents. Nine commercial dyes were used for preparing the reactive dye effluents. These dyes have different three anchors (monochlorotriazine, vinylsulphone, monochlorotriazine-vinylsulphone) and three chromophore groups (monoazo, diazo, azo-cu). Thus, in this study, the effect of ozone treatments was investigated on the decolorization efficiency of dyes having different chromophore and anchor groups. In addition, the effect of ozone on the decolorization efficiency depending on the presence of ultrasound energy and dyeing auxiliaries was studied. The results showed that ozonation treatment was an effective method for the decolorization of reactive dye effluents and, generally, the presence of ultrasound had generally positive effect on the efficiency of decolorization.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of silicone-based softeners, which were developed with different particle sizes (nano, micro, and macro) and chemical structures, on the performance of 100 percent cotton fabrics knitted with different type of yarn (ring, open-end, and compact). Design/methodology/approach: In the study, the silicone emulsions having expected particle sizes were produced at laboratory conditions. The produced silicone emulsions were applied to knitted fabrics with both padding and exhaust methods at different concentrations. Some characterization tests (particle size and zeta potential) were applied to the silicone emulsions before the applications. After the applications, CIELab values, whiteness and color fastness, hyrophility, abrasion, pilling, bursting strength, and stiffness performances of the samples were tested. The changes of the investigated properties were also examined via ANOVA. Findings: According to the results, it was found that the silicone applications caused the CIELab values, whiteness degree, hyrophility, pilling, bursting strength and stiffness performance of the fabrics to change depending on the particle sizes of the emulsions, the yarn type of the fabrics, the application type, and the concentration of the silicone emulsions. When the ANOVA results were examined, it was seen that the types of the yarn and the silicone emulsions were the most effective working parameters on the results. Research limitations/implications: Because no additives were added to the produced silicone emulsions, in the future research, they can be developed with the use of some additives. Thus, it can resolve some of the disadvantages of the silicone emulsions on the textiles. Practical implications: While applying the silicone softeners to the knitted fabrics, the type of the yarn and the particle sizes of the emulsions must be determined according to each other, in order to obtain enough handle performance without causing negative change on the other important properties of the knitted fabrics. Originality/value: When the studies regarding silicone softeners were investigated, it was found that there were no studies about the effect of the silicone softeners having different particle sizes on the physical and chemical structures of the knitted fabrics depending on the type of yarn and some working parameters such as concentration and type of the application.

In this study, which is divided into two parts, the silicone softeners having different properties and including different additives as glycerin, polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) and polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000) (due to their high hydrophilic characters) are produced for the purpose of providing or developing the hydrophilic character, lubricity and filling properties of the emulsions. The paper aims to discuss this issue. In the first part of the study, the produced silicone emulsions were characterized and applied to the 100 percent cotton-knitted fabrics. In addition, the mechanical properties and whiteness degrees of the fabrics were also researched. In this part of the study, the effects of the produced silicone softeners on the comfort properties of the fabric samples were investigated by qualitative handle, hydrophility, contact angle, air permeability, thermal comfort and moisture management tests. The results showed that while classic silicone application improved mechanical comfort properties of the samples such as the handle and drape properties, they worsened other thermal comfort properties as hydrophility, transfer or dispersion of the moisture, and air permeability. In addition, the thermal comfort properties about heat transfer of the fabric samples were not significantly affected by application of the silicone softeners. All results were affected from the producing recipe of the silicone softeners, and generally the usage of the additives had positive effect on the comfort results depending on the producing recipe (especially type of the silicone oil) of the silicone softeners. In this study, the additives were used in single form; however, their dual or trio combinations and/or their different amounts can be used in the emulsions. In order to enhance the hydrophilic character, lubricity and filling properties of the silicone softeners, they could be produced by using appropriate additives. In the literature, there were not any studies about the silicone softeners including different additives. So the authors can say that the contribution of the additives to the recipes of the silicone softeners is a novel approach.