An evaluation of the effectiveness of applying a gelatin–copper complex in the low‐temperature bleaching of cotton with hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

A gelatin–copper complex was prepared and then added as catalyst to a hydrogen peroxide bleaching bath. Cotton fabric was bleached with the new system at low temperature (70 °C). The effects of the gelatin–copper complex on the whiteness, capillary effect, damage, and bleaching rate of the bleached fabric and on the decomposition ratio of hydrogen peroxide were evaluated. These effects were compared with the effectiveness of traditional high‐temperature bleaching and low‐temperature bleaching without the gelatin–copper complex. The results showed that the gelatin–copper complex enhances the bleaching effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide. The whiteness of cotton fabric bleached with the catalytic complex is comparable with the whiteness achieved with a conventional peroxide system. The catalytic bleaching technology not only realises low‐temperature and low‐alkali bleaching of cotton with hydrogen peroxide but also reduces fabric strength loss, which meets the requirements of industry for continued development of the wet processing of textiles.