A potential textile dye production process from bovine blood

Abstract

The first by–product obtained from animal slaughter is blood, a mixture of plasma (up to 60%) and blood cells (30–40%), and also a highly perishable product that must be processed as soon as possible after slaughter (Ungureanu et al., 2024). Blood is one of the most important pollutants dissolved in slaughterhouse wastewater and is also the most problematic component due to its ability to inhibit floc formation. Typically, cattle contain up to 22.72 kg of blood/animal, of which only 15.9 kg of blood is recovered from the animals' bleeding area. The remaining 6.8 kg of blood is lost in the wastewater stream, with a biochemical oxygen consumption (BOD5) of 2.25–3 kg /1000 kg slaughtered animals (Amenu, 2014) and chemical oxygen consumption (COC) of 0.375 kg/L. At the slaughter operation, 4–6 L of blood/animal are obtained 20–35 L of blood/animal in adult cattle; when blood is collected for recovery(Ungureanu et al., 2024). This study investigated the possible way of repurposing waste from meat industry by developing a natural dye from bovine blood, as a sustainable textile dye with an aim of replacing synthetic dyes that have been harmful to the environment in the textile industry. It also aligned with global efforts to reduce industrial waste and pollution. The study scope included bovine blood collection from Kalerwe abattoir, and then it was brought to the Makerere Chemistry Laboratory at the School of Food Technology Nutrition and Bioengineering where there were a couple of activities done including oven drying, grinding, rehydration of blood, lysis, stabilization of the dye using hydrogen peroxide at different levels, pH adjustment and spectrophotometer analysis. The novel study on converting bovine blood into a textile dye was a success. The results showed that a stable dye concentration was achieved with 1% hydrogen peroxide. A period of 72 hours proved to be the most significant time for producing a stable-colored dye. Three distinct dyes red, yellow, and army green were obtained at different drying times, and their color quality and properties were successfully determined.