Guanidine derivatives used as peroxide activators for bleaching cellulosic textiles

Abstract

This paper reports on a new technology for bleaching cellulosic textiles. The technology is based on the use of a substituted guanidine additive in a peroxide bleaching system. We have discovered that the addition of an asymmetrically substituted alkyl or acyl guanidine to the peroxide bleaching process significantly enhances the bleaching performance, leading to a whiter and brighter end‐product. The new process allows effective bleaching of cellulosic textiles to be achieved under relatively mild conditions, preserving the desirable qualities of bleached substrates. In this paper, the guanidine‐based activators are compared with tetra‐acetylethylenediamine, one of the most popular activators currently on the market.