HOW

WAS
BLUE
GOLD
PROD
UCED
?
Indigo dye is an organic compound with a
distinctive blue colour. Historically, indigo was a
natural dye extracted from the leaves of certain
plants, and this process was important
economically because blue dyes were once rare.
A large percentage of indigo dye produced
today, several thousand tons each year, is
synthetic. It is the blue often associated with
denim cloth and blue jeans.
 USE OF INDIGO
The primary use for indigo is as a
dye for cotton yarn, which is mainly
for the production of denim cloth
for blue jeans. On average, a pair of
blue jean pants requires 3–12 g of
indigo. Small amounts are used for
dyeing wool and silk.
 VAT BEATER
What does a Vat beater do ? A
Vat beater carries the indigo
plants to the big vats. A Vat
beater stirs the indigo
solution in the vat by standing
waist deep water for over eight
hours. A Vat beater beats the
indigo plant and extracts the
leaves.
 Indigo factories NEAR indigo villages

After harvest,plant taken to VATS in

indigo factory
 Fermenting Vat
BEATER VAT-2nd Vat
 FERMENTING VAT
Leaves stripped off the plant. soaked in warm
water in a vat (Fermenting vat), for several hours.

When fermented , liquid begins to boil and

bubble.

Rotten leaves taken out, liquid drained to

another vat that is placed just below the
first vat.
Laborers removing used
indigo plants from steeping
vats
 BEATER VAT ( 2nd Vat)
Solution stirred continuously and beaten with
paddles.

When the liquid gradually turned green and then

blue, lime water was added to the vat.

 Gradually the indigo separated out in flakes.

A muddy sediment settled
at the bottom of vat.
A clear liquid rises to the surface.
 SETTLING VAT (3 Vat) rd
Liquid is drained off

The sediment – the indigo pulp –transferred to

another vat (Settling vat)

Then pressed and dried for sale.

Cakes being prepared
 QUESTION

HOW MANY VATS

ARE USED IN
PROCESSING? NAME
THEM.
 ANSWER
3 VATS
1.FERMENTING OR
STEEPER VAT
2. BEATER VAT
3. SETTLING VAT
 QUESTION

WHAT IS
PADDLE
USED
FOR?
 ANSWER

TO STIR THE

SOLUTION IN
THE VAT