Evaluating peracetic acid bleaching of cotton as an environmentally safe alternative to hypochlorite bleaching

Peracetic acid is produced directly in the bleaching liquor from acetic anhydride and hydrogen peroxide. The acid can be catalyzed to bleach knitted cotton fabric at temperatures as low as 30 degrees C in the presence of 2.2' bipyridine, sodium lauryl. sulfate, and sodium tetraborate. We evaluate the effects of the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and acetic anhydride as well as treatment temperature, time, and pH on whiteness, bursting strength, and water absorbency of the fabric. The results of our investigation show that peracetic acid can be acceptable as a bleaching agent for the textile industry as an alternative to hypochlorite bleaching.