Synthesis and Characterization of Natural Pigmens from Butterfly Pea Flower (Clitoria Ternatea) With PVA Binder for Eco-Friendly Ink Applications

This research aims to synthesize and characterize natural ink from butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) pigments as a dye, using aquades was use for solvent, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binder, and alcohol as an additive for eco-friendly ink applications. The pigment was extracted through maceration using aquades and alcohol after sieving to 120 mesh. The pigment extract was mixed with varying amounts of PVA (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, and 1.2 grams) to form ink with physical characteristics similar to commercial ink. Color identification was performed using a color meter, density measurement through empirical calculation, viscosity measurement with an Ostwald viscometer, and print tests using a Canon iP2770 printer. The color meter test results showed that the butterfly pea flower pigment is bluish-purple in liquid form and turns light blue when printed. The ink density with 1.2 grams of PVA was 0.95 grams/ml, equivalent to conventional printer ink. However, its viscosity was higher (27.88 cP) compared to conventional ink (1.12 cP) due to the larger particle size (0.1 mm). The addition of 1.2 grams of PVA produced a color closest to commercial ink, with an identical a* value (-0.5%), although the L* and b* values still differed. Butterfly pea flower ink demonstrated good color stability under normal storage conditions. This study indicates that the combination of butterfly pea flower pigment and PVA has potential as an eco-friendly natural dye, but formula optimization is needed to reduce particle size and improve print quality, thereby benefiting the sustainable ink industry.