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Member since 7/20/08
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Posted on: 1/23/18 10:10 AM ET
Marking my spot to show DH later (he's a chemical engineer who works with dyeing chemistry in the textile industry) ...

He worked on a major project to reuse dye bath water (water conservation became a really big deal in our area after Atlanta's two largest lakes temporarily dried up during a season of drought about 10 years ago). He attended a conference in Atlanta during that time that drew a major researcher in marine biology from Seattle and ever since, he's become more interested in the environmental effects of textile manufacturing.

I love the articles you link to.
------
Mary


  
Member since 5/2/09
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Posted on: 1/23/18 2:02 PM ET
I wonder if "the E. coli-produced precursor only needs the addition of an enzyme" might be worse for people than the other actually? So that part worries me a bit. I hope they safety test it first, and in a factory not near me.
  
Member since 3/24/04
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Posted on: 1/23/18 4:58 PM ET
The chemical synthesis of indigo used currently produces some pretty nasty carcinogens. The E. coli method uses genes from a couple of different bacteria to produce indigo -- genes and bacteria naturally present in the world. I suspect the genetic method (which is related to the way human insulin is now produced) is likely to be safer than the current chemical synthesis.

Indigo is a poor dye... it sits on the surface of fibers, which is what allows it to wash out and fade into interesting wear patterns. Another choice would simply be to forgo indigo dyeing, but that seems unlikely at present.
  
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