Tyrian purple the Iles Purpuraires at Mogador, in Morocco. The sea snail harvested at this western Moroccan dye production facility was "Hexaplex trunculus" (mentioned above) also known by the older name "Murex trunculus". This second species of dye murex is found today on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe and Africa (Spain and Portugal, Morocco, and the Canary Islands). The colour-fast (non-fading) dye was an item of luxury trade, prized by Romans, who used it to colour ceremonial robes. Used as a dye, the color shifts from blue (peak absorption at 590 nm, which is yellow-orange) to reddish-purple (peak absorption at
Carbene dye Carbene dye A carbene dye is a reactive dye based on carbene chemistry. A benzophenone is functionalised with a chromophore or group that can be easily converted to a chromophore at a later stage. The functionalised benzophenone is reacted with hydrazine hydrate and subsequently treatment with mercury oxide. The resulting diazo compound is stable at room temperature. On heating, nitrogen gas is released and the carbene generated. The thus generated carbene reacts rapidly with substrates such as nylon, cotton, glass and polyethylene. The highly reactive carbene group removes the need for different functional groups depending on the substrate to be