Qualitative analysis of cotton fiber pigment composition

Naturally colored cotton is a green textile material. To cultivate new colored cotton and improve its performance, we must first understand the types, composition, and formation mechanism of the pigments in colored cotton. This study aims to explore the composition and structure of cotton fiber pigments. Qualitative analyses of pigment extracts from brown cotton, green cotton, and white cotton fibers were carried out using ultraviolet spectroscopy, diagnostic agents, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The main component of cotton fiber pigments was flavonoids, and specific types of flavonoids were found in the pigments in brown cotton, green cotton, and white cotton fibers. Research on the composition of cotton fiber pigments can increase our understanding of colored cotton fibers and lay a foundation for the cultivation, planting, and development of colored cotton fibers, as well the identification of naturally colored cotton from dyed cotton.