Disadvantages Of Synthetic Organic Dyes

Artificial food dyes can be found in many products sold in the United States including food, cosmetics, medicine, and even cleaning products. The FDA allows for seven dyes to be used in food products: Blue 1, Blue 2, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Green 6.1 Although this number is much lower than the over 80 dyes allowed in the early 20th century, many people are debating whether the 7 that are still allowed are safe.2

After 7 trials of chromatography in a 2% isopropyl alcohol solution, blue dye #5 had an average rate of flow of .948. Red dye #40 had an average rate of flow of .781, and yellow dye #1 had an average rate of flow of .884. After 7 trials of chromatography in a 2% sodium chloride solution, blue dye #5 had an average rate of flow of .743. Red dye #40 had an average rate of flow of .20, and yellow dye #1 had an average rate of flow of .387.

This is largely because they are relatively cheap and simple to manufacture. Furthermore, they produce vibrant shades of color and are reasonably soluble in water (Liu, Wan, Nan, n.d.). However, these dyes are now manufactured at such a large scale that they bring up numerous health and environmental concerns. In recent years azo dyes, especially Allura Red AC, have been connected to child hyperactivity, which also raises concerns over other potentially toxic effects they can have on living organisms (“FDA Probes Link”, 2011). This is only amplified by the fact that azo dyes such as Allura Red AC and Azo Grenadine are also especially recalcitrant to conventional methods of wastewater treatment. Research on this topic led me to an article on electrochemical advanced oxidation processes and their potential as a solution to mineralizing especially recalcitrant compounds in the environment, "Decontamination of Wastewaters Containing Synthetic Organic Dyes by Electrochemical Methods: A Review." This led me to pursue the investigation in my extended essay on the topic of electrochemical advanced oxidation processes and the effect they have on azo dyes such as Allura Red AC and Azo Grenadine. In order to evaluate the effect of this process, I made the decision to do a comparison of the two dyes. This led me to the question, “How does the effect of electrochemical advanced oxidation processes vary between Allura Red AC and Azo

The very first artificial dye was created by accident in 1856 by William Perkin9. Perkin’s dye chemistry set the stage for pharmaceuticals, plastics, etc. These products were not intended to be used for consumption, yet we eat them daily and use them in numerous other products, such as supplements, medicines, mouthwash, shampoo, and hand sanitizers (Gavigan, 2013). Gavigan’s general claim in the article is that petroleum based dyes are not safe. He goes on to also claim that “FD&C Red No. 40 may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice; causes hypersensitivity (allergy – like) reactions and hyperactivity in children”. The article also gives a breakdown of the other 7 food dyes and their health risks.

In the Dyes and Crimes laboratory experiment, the phosphorescence, fluorescence, and chemiluminescence properties i.e. traits of several chemicals were examined using (UV) Ultraviolet lamp. Observations on color, intensity, duration of glow, etc. were analyzed to determine the traits of the several chemicals. Correspondingly, the author of the unsigned note was determined through ink extraction, (TLC) Thin Layer Chromatography, (UV-Vis) Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy along with the Rf values for of each individual sample of ink compared to the unknown: the ink of the author on the unsigned note. Phosphorescence substances

The experiments conducted for this lab report focused on water contamination and filtration. Experiment 1 was effects of groundwater contamination. Oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent were added to clean water with no means of filtration. The clean water was found to be contaminated. A filtration system consisting of cheesecloth and 60 ml of soil was created and the contaminated samples were filtered through it. The soil and cheese cloth did not affectively filter the contaminants. Experiment 2 focused on

Category 2 – Grey Water: Grey water contains some degree of contamination and could cause sickness or discomfort if consumed by humans. It may contain detergents, household chemicals, bacteria or algae. Time and temperature can cause Category 2 water to become progressively more contaminated. It can come from leaking or damaged toilet bowls, dishwashers or washing machines, and working with grey water can be

Due to diverse composition of the wastewater, which can be high concentrations of volatile organic compounds, chemicals, and materials of radioactivity. (Chameides, 2011) This diverse composition of wastewater can disrupt the natural operation of municipal treatment plants by inhibiting biological treatment. Additionally, the wastewater may facilitate the formation of harmful disinfection by products. Hence the need for specialized treatment plants for the oil and gas industry. (Maloney & Yoxtheimer, 2012) These specialized treatment plants will customarily be made up of 4 subcategories, “Metals Treatment and Recovery,” “Oils Treatment and Recovery,” “Organics Treatment and Recovery,” and “Multiple Waste streams.” (“Natural Gas Extraction – Hydraulic Fracturing | US EPA”,

Methylene blue would not be a good substance in counterstaining because it stains both the positive and negative. It would be difficult to determine which is positive and which is negative.

The hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the phenyl oxalate ester, resulting in a chemical called phenol and an unstable peroxyacid ester.

Since these dyes are harmful to the environment, a benefit of doing research on them is to find a way to more safely and quickly remove these dyes from the environment. The current methods are expensive, and cause the dyes to turn into sludge, which is also dangerous because this sludge can produce toxic products.^3 In addition to this, doing research on the properties that these dyes have on humans would be beneficial in studying the effects they have on humans and how to treat these effects.

Table 4.20 and Table 4.21 shows the readings for the test conducted at pH11 for cationic and anionic dye solutions. From the readings it was seen that least color removal of 81.49% for cationic dye and 70.21% for anionic dye was obtained at WTR dose of 120mg/L at pH11 for both the set of dyes. From the Figure 4.17 and Figure 4.18 also it can be seen that minimum color removals were obtained at WTR dose of 20mg/L. Therefore it can be said that the best color removal was obtained at pH3 and as the pH increases color removal. However from pH 7 to pH9 there was marginal increase in color

Use of the artificial coloration of the foods was common even in ancient times. Many of colorants that contained toxic inorganic salts, were used to mask inferior or spoiled foods. Later, in the mid18000s, when there was a rapid development and use of scientific instruments, scientists made the first synthetic dye from coal tar. Therefore, organic-based dyes began to replace toxic mineral salts. No investigations were done to identify the safety of these dyes and, as a result of this, there were many health problems in people. In 1906,

Most of the chemicals used for fire retardant finishing of cotton textile are synthetic compounds and they are available in the market. These chemicals and their application procedures are hazardous, expensive and non-eco-friendly [4].

Water it is contaminated with chromium and arsenic, and here is where the biggest problem lies. The fact that companies who carry out these processes do not contain tanks where the water store and may reutilizer, generate that all these “Wastewater and solid waste from tanning operations often find their way into surface water, where toxins are carried downstream and contaminate water used for bathing, cooking, swimming, and irrigation” (37). Therefore the amount of people that are exposed to a high risk of contamination, and diseases it is considerably high.