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Biotechnological production of natural pigments for textile dyeing

Summary

Scientists have successfully produced natural pigments from a fungus called Penicillium brevicompactum using leftover materials from food and agriculture industries, like cheese whey and corn byproducts. These pigments were used to dye cotton and linen fabrics, creating colors comparable to those from synthetic dyes but without the environmental and health concerns. This sustainable approach could help the textile industry move away from artificial dyes while reducing waste and supporting a circular economy.

Background

The natural pigments market is growing due to circular bioeconomy policies and sustainability concerns. Fungal-derived pigments offer biodegradable, non-toxic alternatives to synthetic dyes. Agro-industrial byproducts like cheese whey and corn steep liquor can serve as cost-effective substrates for pigment production.

Objective

This study aimed to develop sustainable production of natural pigments using Penicillium brevicompactum with agro-industrial byproducts as culture media and corncob as an immobilization support. The goal was to demonstrate the suitability of these pigments for textile dyeing applications.

Results

Medium D (cheese whey with yeast extract and peptone) under SmFi conditions produced pigments at 136% of the reference synthetic medium level. All three best-performing media (C, D, G) under SmFi showed comparable pigment production without significant differences. Pigment mixtures successfully dyed cotton and linen fabrics with ΔE* values exceeding 16, indicating significant color development, with medium D producing darker but less intensely colored fabrics.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates for the first time the sustainable production of natural pigments by P. brevicompactum using agro-industrial byproducts and corncob support, achieving high yields suitable for textile dyeing. These fungal pigments represent environmentally acceptable, biodegradable alternatives to synthetic dyes, supporting circular bioeconomy principles.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 41098536, PMCID: PMC12518282, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1677799
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