The reduction of dispersed indigo by cathodically formed 1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene

The indirect cathodic reduction of the vat dye indigo (C.I. Vat Blue 1) by cathodically reduced Lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; C.I. Natural Orange 6) was studied in aq. solution at different pH values. Cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone at a hanging mercury drop electrode. The cathodic peak potential (Ep)d measured at 0.1 mM lawsone solution at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1 changed from −425 mV at pH 7, to −730 mV at pH 11.5 and −750 mV at pH 13 (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3 M KCl). Particularly at pH values of 8–9 and 11.5–13 voltammograms indicated successful, indirect cathodic reduction of the dye in which the cathodically reduced 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone acted as soluble mediator. The linear relationship obtained for (Ip)d vs. v1/2 is indicative of a diffusion-controlled electrode reaction mechanism. In the presence of dispersed indigo, the overall cathode reaction is similar to the Ecat process with continuous regeneration of the electroactive species. Spectrochemical experiments were used to prove the indirect cathodic reaction of dispersed vat dyes by 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone.