EFFECT OF CHLORAMIDES ON BLEACHING OF COTTON FABRICS BY HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE

The effects of N-chloroacetamide on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and of a protein chloramide on bleaching of cotton fabrics by hydrogen peroxide have been examined. It is found that decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide is accelerated by addition of N-chloroacetamied, if the pH is kept constant. In sequential bleaching of unscored cotton fabrics by sodium hypochlorite and then by hydrogen peroxide without an intermediate wash, the acceleration of bleaching by hydrogen peroxide seems to be a combined effect of protein chloramide and residual hypochlorite. Pretreatment of scoured fabrics with gelatine, a protein, shows no advantage in bleaching by hydrogen peroxide.