Low temperature bleaching of cotton using TAED activated peroxide bath

Abstract

Low temperature bleaching of cotton fabric using tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) in the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) bath has been studied and the most appropriate conditions for this bleaching established. In this technique, <i>in-situ</i> peracetic acid formation takes place via reaction of TAED and H₂O₂ This method gives bleaching comparable to that of the conventional method at relatively low temperature (60°C). The extent of bleaching depends upon the temperature of bleaching, <i>p</i>H, concentration of TAED and treatment time. The loss of strength, process time and alkali required are also found to be less than for the samples bleached in conventional manner.