Chemistry of long-chain peroxy acids under laundry conditions

Peroxycarboxylic acids are increasingly used as bleaching agents for the laundering process. These peroxy acids can be added as such to the wash liquor or may be generated in situ by reaction of a precursor component with hydrogen peroxide. Bleaching effectiveness appears to be determined by a delicate balance of chemical reactions of peroxy acid with the staining dyes and the rate of peroxy acid decomposition under the prevailing conditions. To improve our understanding of the chemistry involved we have carried out a systematic study using a range of aromatic and aliphatic mono- and diperoxycarboxylic acids with various carbon chain lengths and degrees of branching. We investigated peroxy acid decomposition, bleaching of stained fabric and bleaching of a water-soluble dye, and showed that the alkyl chain length of the peroxy acids, the presence of detergent components and the pH of the medium are important factors. Combination of the kinetic data for decomposition and bleaching reactions allows the selection of structures and conditions for optimum performance. Presented at the AOCS meeting in New Orleans in May 1987.