Bleaching Bleaching
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Exactly your chemistry. Surfactants Division TheThe cleanclean andand cleverclever wayway ofof bleachingbleaching ®PERACTIVE PERACTIVE: Clariant’s bleach activator based on tetraacetylethylendiamine (TAED) Overview PERACTIVE – The system at a glance: multi-active, economical and environmentally friendly . 6 Basics of bleaching PERACTIVE – The stains and the bleaching agent . 10 PERACTIVE – Physico-chemical data . 12 PERACTIVE – Optimization of the bleaching process . 14 Part I: Perhydrolysis . 15 Part II: Active oxygen formation and bleaching . 17 Additional benefits PERACTIVE – Hygiene and deodorization . 22 PERACTIVE – Gentle on colours and fibres . 24 Applications PERACTIVE – A bleaching activator with numerous application possibilities . 28 PERACTIVE in modern heavy duty powder detergents . 29 PERACTIVE in bleach boosters . 32 PERACTIVE in denture cleaners . 35 PERACTIVE in dishwashing detergents . 36 PERACTIVE in anhydrous liquid detergents . 38 PERACTIVE in textile bleaching . 40 PERACTIVE under cold wash conditions . 42 PERACTIVE in all purpose cleaners . 45 Environmental aspects PERACTIVE – Production, toxicology and environmental behaviour . 48 PERACTIVE – Literature, Glossary, Abbreviations used, Index . 51 PERACTIVEPERACTIVE OverviewOverview PERACTIVE – The system at a glance: multi-active, economical and environmentally friendly Consumers expect the best possible results PERACTIVE is stable in storage and compat- from a modern detergent. Top of consumer re- ible with other detergent ingredients such as quirements is the complete elimination of difficult layered silicates, enzymes and optical brighteners. stains at the same time as the gentle treatment of It satisfies all the requirements for use in conven- fibres and colours. Washing and bleaching should tional and compact detergents. Further fields of be carried out in a single operation, the consumer application for the PERACTIVE system are bleach can only be expected to do additional work, such boosters, dishwashing detergents, cleaners acting as soaking, in the case of heavily soiled washing. as disinfectants, as well as industrial detergents and cleaning and bleaching agents for textile The PERACTIVE system, a combination of a bleaching. persalt (sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate) with the activator PERACTIVE, satisfies these requirements in the best possible manner. It de- livers highly reactive peracetic acid in the washing liquor even at temperatures of 20°C, as well as free hydrogen peroxide depending on the excess of persalt. The combination of both oxidizing agents guarantees the best possible bleaching result on a large number of stubborn stains and at the same time a hygienically clean wash. The overall washing result is influenced positively, colours and fibres are protected and the overall quality of the laundry is enhanced. Washing at boiling point is not neces- sary, since a comparable result is already obtained at 40 and 60°C saving energy and costs. PERACTIVE is especially environmentally friendly. It is produced industrially in a continuous process free of by-products with optimum use of raw materials. It is safe to handle, toxicologically harmless and combined with sodium percarbonate it is a bleaching system which safeguards the en- vironment. It is ecologically safe, easily biodegrad- able and totally mineralizable. 6 PERACTIVE – A system with many functions PERACTIVE system The PERACTIVE system releases highly Bleaching reactive peracetic acid in the washing liquor even Hygiene at room temperature. The peracetic acid reacts with a large number of stains as a result of its oxidation potential. At the same time it acts as a Peracetic disinfectant and kills bacteria and germs under mild acid conditions. In addition unpleasant odours (tobacco, cooking smells) are decomposed by oxidation and the efficiency of fragrances is thus enhanced. As a Preservation mild oxidizing agent peracetic acid is compatible Deodorization of colours and fibres with most dyes and no damage to the fabric is observed even with frequent use. Fig. 1 Multi-active properties of the PERACTIVE system PERACTIVE – Difference in reflectance [%] Efficient and economical 35 30 The positive effect of PERACTIVE on the bleaching result is visible even at 20°C. It reaches 25 its optimum spectrum of activity in the temperature 20 ∆ T=20°C range of 30 to 60°C. Significantly better stain RE=7 15 ∆ removal is possible at these temperatures compared to a detergent without PERACTIVE. At temperatures 10 above 70°C excess hydrogen peroxide supports the IEC+10% PB*4 5 effect of the peracetic acid. The effective utilization IEC+10% PB*4+3% PERACTIVE of the activator system is visible if pure peracetic 0 20 40 60 80 acid is used for bleaching instead of the PERACTIVE Temperature [˚C] system. In this case a comparable result is obtained. Fig. 2 Bleaching performance of PERACTIVE/PB compared to PB 30 min. washing time, cotton with tea stains, 1.5 g IEC/l [%] 2% 5% 6% PERACTIVE – Compact and PERACTIVE PERACTIVE PERACTIVE environmentally friendly 30% PB*4 20% PB*4 13% PB*1 10% SPC 100 The use of PERACTIVE makes it possible to produce effective bleaching systems in terms of 80 weight and volume for incorporation in compact powders. It is possible to reduce the persalt 60 concentration by about 50% without any loss in efficiency. The system proves to be especially 40 environmentally friendly combined with sodium percarbonate, which supplies alkali and at the same 20 time enables additional savings in chemicals to be made. 0 conventional activated concentrate compact Fig. 3 Proportion of bleaching systems in heavy duty detergents in Europe 1970–1995 7 PERACTIVEPERACTIVE BasicsBasics ofof bleachingbleaching PERACTIVE – The stains and the bleaching agent Laundry necessarily comes into contact with natural and synthetic dyes in daily use. These may vary in origin: drinks (coffee, tea, fruit juices or red wine), fruit or vegetables (spinach, carrots or marmalade), sauces (ketchup, soya or gravy) or spices (saffron and curry). The natural dyes are often mixtures of substances, whose chemical structures have only been partly explained. Whilst some stains, as long as they have not undergone ageing, can be removed by washing them out quickly, chemical destruction of the chromophore is necessary for stubborn soiling. Various bleaching agents are used for the washing process worldwide depending on the region. In countries with typical cold wash conditions (10–30°C), such as North America or the Far East, chlorine bleaching (sodium hypochlorite) is still currently used. In 5% solution it is a highly reactive oxidizing agent and disinfectant. However, over- dosing of the reactive chemical may easily cause damage to the fibres and dyes in textile fabrics. Furthermore, the formation of halogen-containing substances during storage, use and in the effluent has resulted in search for alternative, more environ- mentally compatible systems. Sodium perborate has been used in Europe as a bleaching agent since the beginning of the 20th century. Its crystalline structure guarantees stability in storage and enables it to be incorporated directly in detergents. Unfortunately, the hydrogen peroxide formed on being introduced into water only develops its oxidizing properties at temperatures higher than 80°C, preferably in the pH range of 11 to 12. The effect which can be achieved with persalts alone is only slight at 30–60°C. However, this low temperature range becomes accessible as a result of adding a suitable activator such as PERACTIVE. 10 Bleachable types of stains R CH3 OH Grass Natural dyes can be classified in different HO * O Motor oil CH 2-CH= 2 groups according to their polarity. Red or reddish R Paprika brown shades are caused by groups containing Collar dirt phenol, such as occur for example in the antho- OR cyanines (red wine) or flavines (tea). They are Hydrophilic Hydrophobic I Hydrophobic II ionizable in water and are easily attacked by hydro- R philic bleaching agents such as peracetic acid. Tea Carrot Water-insoluble, hydrophobic dyes are more difficult CoffeeH3C Tomato N N C2H5 to oxidize, such as porphorin systems (chlorophyll Red wineMg Saffron N N in grass) or fully conjugated hydrocarbons FruitsH3C CH3 Baby food (carotenoids). R R O Fig. 4 Chemical structures of natural dyes Bleaching systems worldwide Persalt Persalt / PERACTIVE HOCI The most aggressive bleaching agent is chlorine bleaching liquor, which is formed on intro- ducing alkali hypochlorites or organic chlorine - donators (cyanuric chloride) to water. Hydrogen H2O2 Peracetic acid OCI peroxide is released in the washing liquor from inorganic persalts (sodium perborate) or adducts 80 C 30–60 C 20 C of the hydrogen peroxide (sodium percarbonate). However, its reactivity is inhibited kinetically and is only realized at temperatures >80°C. Contrary to that in the PERACTIVE system (persalt plus PERACTIVE) a reactive organic peracid is released, Bleach which has a bleaching activity at temperatures as low as 30°C. Fig. 5 Conventional bleaching systems Factors which influence bleaching By contrast with the action of surfactants, Type and amount bleaching is largely independent of the water hard- of soiling ness and the mechanics of the washing process. Good effects are achieved even on soaking. Type and Temperature concentration and period of bleaching Whilst the nature and amount of soiling are system predetermined, the other factors can be varied over wide limits by the appropriate choice of parameters. Composition From these washing temperature