Analysis of factors affecting the performance of activated peroxide systems on bleaching of cotton fabric

A screening experiment was designed to investigate the possible factors affecting the performance of activated peroxide systems (APSs) on bleaching of cotton fabric. The design of experiment comprised thirteen factors such as type of bleach activator (BA), concentration of bleach activator ([BA]), molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide to bleach activator ([H2O2]:[BA]), type of peroxide stabilizer (PS), concentration of peroxide stabilizer ([PS]), type of wetting agent (WA), concentration of wetting agent ([WA]), pH value of bleach bath (pH), bleaching temperature (T), bleaching time (t), liquor-to-goods ratio, cotton substrate (C), and water quality (W). The bleaching performance of APSs was accessed by measuring the degree of whiteness of bleached cotton fabric which was defined as the response factor for statistical analysis. The screening analysis revealed that C was the most significant factor affecting the performance of APSs on bleaching of cotton fabric, followed by T, BA, [BA], pH, PS, and [H2O2]:[BA]. Additionally, two-factor interactions were found as well between C and T, T and pH, C and BA, C and [BA], T and [BA], W and [PS], C and PS, and pH and [H2O2]:[BA]. These significant main effects and two-factor interactions were interpreted in details for a better understanding of the performance of APSs on bleaching of cotton fabric. The findings of this study are valuable for further establishment and optimization of APSs for low-temperature bleaching of cotton fabric.