title: Establishment of an activated peroxide system for low-temperature cotton bleaching using N-[4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]butyrolactam chloride.
abstract: Cotton bleaching is traditionally carried out in strongly alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at temperatures close to the boil. Such harsh processing conditions can result in extensive water and energy consumptions as well as severe chemical damage to textiles. In this study, an activated peroxide system was established for low-temperature cotton bleaching by incorporating a bleach activator, namely N-[4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]butyrolactam chloride (TBBC) into an aqueous H2O2 solution. Experimental results showed that the TBBC-activated peroxide system exhibited the most effective bleaching performance in a pH range of 6-8 which could be approximated by adding sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). The TBBC/H2O2/NaHCO3 system led to rapid bleaching of cotton at a temperature as low as 50°C. In comparison with the hot alkaline peroxide bleaching system, the TBBC/H2O2/NaHCO3 system provided cotton fabric with an equivalent degree of whiteness, higher degree of polymerization, and slightly lower water absorbency. The new activated peroxide system may provide a more environmentally benign approach to cotton bleaching.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Eco-textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles and Clothing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Advanced Functional Textile Materials, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China. Electronic address: changhai_xu@jiangnan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Changhai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; International Joint Research Laboratory for Advanced Functional Textile Materials, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China. Electronic address: dhinks@ncsu.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hinks
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Eco-textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles and Clothing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Advanced Functional Textile Materials, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Eco-textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles and Clothing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Advanced Functional Textile Materials, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
authors.forename: Qufu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies / Q000737:chemistry; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000737:chemistry; D057886:Bleaching Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D003080:Cold Temperature; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007769:Lactams / Q000737:chemistry*; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000737:chemistry*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D001639:Bicarbonates; D057886:Bleaching Agents; D007769:Lactams; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: Activated peroxide system; Cotton; Low-temperature bleaching; N-[4-(Triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]butyrolactam chloride; Peroxide bleaching