Leather Dyeing with biodyes from Filamentous Fungi

Abstract

Certain species of filamentous fungi typically produce coloredsubstances as secondary metabolites, which can be used as dyesfor industrial applications, especially for products intended to beused in direct contact with the human body such as leathergoods. These natural biodyes can be an eco-friendly alternativeto synthetic dyes (mainly azo dyes), since they are not originatedfrom extractive activities of the environment and no hazardouschemicals are used while they are produced. Therefore, thisbiotechnological development for leather dyeing represents animportant area to be explored and improved. However, this is acomplex challenge due to the requirements of large-scaleproduction with low cost and quality standardization with highstability and fastness. The aim of this study is to present a reviewon recent literature about improvements of leather dyeingtechniques and the search of natural dyes for industrial usesemphasizing the developments related to dyes from filamentousfungi Monascus purpureus.