Azo dyes are the largest group of artificial food dyes, containing 70 percent of the organic dyes produced in the world. Also, the most common azo dyes in the food industry are considered to be yellow dyes (sunset yellow and tartrazine) and red dyes (azorubine and allura red).
Azo dyes are the largest group of synthetic dyes with the azo (NN) functional group or chromophore, so they can be found in synthetic dyes with aromatic ring structures.
Azo dyes are widely used in the food industry, as well as in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, textile and leather industries. Azo dyes, if absorbed systemically, are metabolized by liver cells and skin surface bacteria via the intestinal microflora. This metabolism leads to aromatic amines, which are dangerous. In the 1930s, some azo derivatives were found to be directly carcinogenic to the liver and bladder after feeding.
Azo dyes are the most important class of dyes and account for more than half of the world's annual production. The toxicity of azo dyes has been extensively studied since the late 1800s. According to these studies, the carcinogen may be the dye itself or it may be a metabolite of the dye. For water-insoluble but solvent-soluble dyes, such as solvent dyes and disperse dyes, the dye is normally carcinogenic. It is a metabolite of the dye, which is carcinogenic to water-soluble dyes. Water-soluble azo dyes represent a very important class of dyes for dyeing hydrophilic textiles such as cotton and viscose rayon. Cotton is the world's most widely used textile fabric, so the tonnages of these water-soluble dyes are extremely large.
There are two main methods to prevent the carcinogenicity of such dyes. The first method is to use non-carcinogenic analogs of said amines, such as benzidine or its derivatives. The second method is to ensure that all possible metabolites of the dye are water-soluble.
Besides their characteristic coloring functions, azo compounds are also effective as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and cytotoxic agents.
Our company also provides azo colorants analysis services with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.
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