Oxidative Bleaching Research Articles

In situ enzymatic generation of H2O2 from O2 for use in oxidative bleaching and catalysis by TAML activators

Iron-TAML activators of peroxides are functional mimics of peroxidase and short-circuited cytochrome P450 enzymes that perform numerous transformations that appear by all measures to date to be fully life cycle compatible with the environment. Here we show how to design the same catalytic chemistry without the direct addition of H2O2, thereby removing the need to transport and store hydrogen peroxide. In this new approach, dioxygen is reduced in situ by D-glucose in the presence of glucose oxidase (GO) from Aspergillus niger. The resulting tandem TAML–GO system exhibits similar catalytic efficiency to the TAML/H2O2 prototype. The tandem system is shown here to efficiently decolorize Orange II and oxidize NADH, both near neutral pH (7.5). Computational simulations of the kinetic data suggest that denaturing of GO by oxidized TAML intermediates does not occur throughout each process. This tandem system brings the advantage of in situ generation of low concentrations of H2O2 during the catalytic cycles. This minimizes both unproductive H2O2 consumption resulting from the catalase-like activity of iron TAMLs and suicidal inactivation. Kinetic data for oxidation of NADH by TAML/H2O2 are also reported.

Reactions of hydrophobic organic nanoparticle mixtures in water: nanoparticle-on-nanoparticle oxidative dye bleaching

The oxidative bleaching between mixed organic nanosuspensions of hydrophobic dyes and oxidising agents has been demonstrated to be faster in water than homogeneous organic solvent reactions conducted at the same temperature. Aqueous nanosuspensions of both Oil Red O and e-phthalimido-peroxy-hexanoic acid were generated using a nanoprecipitation technique and reacted at various temperatures. At 50 °C, bleaching within the nanosuspension was achieved in approximately 30 minutes; considerably faster than the comparative reaction in acetone or the mixed organic powders in water (>48 hours). Kinetic analyses show dramatic increases in reaction rates and modified rate constants and a 7-fold decrease in apparent activation energy.

Effects of Flotation Deinking on the Removal of Main Colors of Oil-Based Inks from Uncoated and Coated Office Papers

This paper presents the results of trials to evaluate the color-stripping behaviour of offset printing colors and the effect of coating on deinking performance. Oil-based four-color inks were separately printed as base printing on coated and uncoated white poster paper, and then extensive pulping and deinking processes were carried out. Standard offset printings were conducted on paper samples using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors (CMYK), and the effects of deinking efficiency on the removal of each color were analysed. The pulps were made at Micro-Maelstrom Laboratory Pulper at specified conditions with and without bleaching agents. Formamidin sulfinic acid and hydrogen peroxide formulation were used as reductive and oxidative bleaching agents, respectively. Flotation deinking and thickening of pulp were practiced using Degussa flotation and thickening cell. The changes in the optical properties, such as brightness, whiteness, and color value (CIE L⃰, a⃰ b⃰) of deinked pulp were determined. It was found that optical properties of color-stripped pulps from coated papers were better than that of uncoated office papers. However, yield was quite low in coated papers since fillers were lost during flotation process. Cyan color was found to be the most difficult one in four main color printing inks stripping out in the deinking process.

Determination of optical properties of oxidative bleaching human dental tissue samples using optical coherence tomography

Oxidative bleaching changes of human teeth induced changes in the optical properties of dental tissue. We introduced 1310 nm wavelengths of optical coherence tomography (OCT) attenuation coefficient method which is a relatively novel and rarely reported methodology to measure the correlation coefficient during the teeth oxidative bleaching procedure. And the quantitative parameters of enamel optical thickness and disruption of the entrance signal (DES) were extracted from the OCT images. The attenuation coefficient of the bleached tissue is 6.2 mm−1 which is significant (p < 0.001) higher than that unbleached sample is 1.4 mm−1. But attenuation coefficient varied significantly (p < 0.001) between 5.9 and 1.5 mm−1 in dentine which is downtrend. Furthermore, the persistence of bleaching oxidation in 35% hydrogen peroxide-induced optical thickness of enamel is similar with unbleached tissue which may indicate the refractive index of enamel is unchanged. Moreover, disruption of the entrance signal (DES) analysis showed that remarkable difference was appeared at enamel surface. The results indicate that optical properties of oxidative bleaching human dental tissue can be determined by attenuation coefficient using OCT system.

Union Dyeing of Soybean Protein Fiber/Wool Blends

Protein fibers are attractive topics in the past decades. Among them, soybean protein fiber, the regenerated protein-base fiber, is very popular due to its luster, smooth surface, breathability, and comfort. In order to blend with wool and reach union dyeing, soybean protein fiber was first bleached due to its yellow appearance. Various bleaching processes were introduced in this paper. Reactive dyes for cellulose and for wool, such as Unisol or Megafix dyes, together with proper dyeing process were selected and compared. The results showed that one-time oxidation bleaching is confirmed as the bleaching process due to its compromise of high whiteness and bursting strength. It is unable to reach union dyeing for soybean protein fiber/wool fiber with Unisol or Megafix dyes respectively while it is feasible to reach union dyeing of soybean protein fiber/wool fiber dyeing with Unisol dyes followed by Megafix dyes.

Antioxidant Properties of Selected Plant Extracts and Application in Packaging as Antioxidant Cellulose‐Based Films for Vegetable Oil

Selected plant extracts including cinnamon, clove, ginger, green tea and thyme were investigated for their antioxidant activity by using both β‐carotene‐linoleate bleaching agar well diffusion and β‐carotene‐linoleate bleaching broth assays, and for radical scavenging activity against free radicals using a 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assay. Undiluted plant extracts (except ginger oil) showed a yellow zone of β‐carotene ranging from 15.3 to 38.2 mm in diameter. At a concentration of 50 μL mL‐1, thyme yielded the highest antioxidant activity (260%), followed by ginger (254%), cinnamon (108%), clove (106%) and green tea (101%), respectively. Conversely, at a plant extract concentration of 0.39 μL mL‐1 solution in ethanol, green tea yielded the highest radical scavenging activity (94.3%), followed by clove (93.4%), cinnamon (91.1%), thyme (30.4%) and ginger (8.29%), respectively. The minimum oxidative bleaching inhibitory concentrations (MOBICs) of these plant extracts were determined using a β‐carotene‐linoleate bleaching broth dilution assay ranging from 0.195 to 50 μL mL‐1. The MOBICs of plant extracts in a range of 0.195–1.56 μL mL‐1 could reveal an ability to inhibit the oxidation of β‐carotene‐linoleate broth. Cellulose‐based film containing cinnamon, clove or green tea showed positive activity against β‐carotene‐linoleate oxidation and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radicals. Protective effects of plant extracts incorporated in cellulose‐based pouches in stabilizing soybean oil were tested by measuring their peroxide values and free fatty acid contents during accelerated storage. Green tea‐incorporated cellulose‐based pouches exhibited stronger antioxidant properties in soybean oil than do butylated hydroxyanisole‐incorporated cellulose‐based pouches. This study showed the potential use of plant extracts as antioxidants for food packaging application. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Protective effect against oxygen reactive species and skin fibroblast stimulation of Couroupita guianensis leaf extracts

In this study, hydroalcoholic leaf extracts of Couroupita guianensis were examined for antioxidant activity, phytochemical and total phenolic composition, stimulation of human skin fibroblast (HSF) proliferation and UV-absorption. The radical scavenging capacity, reducing power and protection against joint oxidation of linoleic acid and β-carotene bleaching oxidation in emulsion were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. The results of this study strongly indicate in vitro antioxidant activity, which may be due to the presence of a high total phenolic content. In order to identify active principles, the extracts were submitted to fractionation and the compounds isolated were the flavonoids 2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5′-dimethylchalcone (1), 7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavanone (2) and the phenolic acid 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (3). In addition, a high level of stimulation of HSF proliferation and significant absorption of UV radiation were also observed. The results suggest that the hydroalcoholic leaf extracts of C. guianensis have promising skin care properties.

Treatment of Bleached Wool with Trans-Glutaminases to Enhance Tensile Strength, Whiteness, and Alkali Resistance

Trans-glutaminases is known as a cross-linking enzyme for proteins. Wool is a proteinous fiber conventionally is treated through several processes to obtain the desirable characteristics. Bleaching is also one of the most important processes usually carried out by using an oxidizing agent in a conventional method. The tensile strength of wool yarns was reduced as a consequence of oxidative bleaching. Here, with the help of microbial trans-glutaminases (m-TGases), a novel bleaching process was disclosed in a way to obtain a bleached wool yarn with no significant reduction in the tensile strength. The results confirmed that the bleached wool yarns with H(2)O(2) could be modified by m-TGases post-treatment. The m-TGases treatment on the bleached wool yarns improved the tensile strength and whiteness along with the higher alkali resistance.

Photocatalytic bleaching of p-nitrosodimethylaniline and a comparison to the performance of other AOP technologies

In this paper, the performance of a developed photo reactor has been studied using the process of bleaching of p-nitrosodimethylaniline (RNO). The effect of available surface area in the reactor has been tested with the TiO 2 suspension system as reference, as well as the influence of operating parameters as pH and aerobic/anaerobic conditions. The bleaching of RNO by UV light alone was found to be significantly slower compared to the bleaching observed when applying photocatalysis, but the initial bleaching rate when applying TiO 2 in suspension was still 7 times faster compared to the most efficient immobilized TiO 2 treatment set up. An approximate linear correlation between the surface area of the TiO 2 available for reaction and the initial rate of bleaching was found. In addition, the kinetics of the photocatalytic bleaching was found to obey L–H kinetics. The pH of the solution was found to influence the rate of bleaching presumably due to the change in the surface charge of TiO 2. Also aerobic/anaerobic conditions and the presence of hydroxyl radical scavenger had a profound influence on the bleaching rate, where the reductive bleaching process was found to be much faster than the oxidative bleaching paths. When comparing the obtained rates of bleaching of RNO in the photocatalytic reactors to two competitive AOPs, UV/S 2O 8 2− and conductive-diamond electrochemical oxidation (CDEO), the CDEO process was the most energy efficient for bleaching of RNO.

Preparation and Surface Activity of Phosphated Alkyl Oligoglucosides

AbstractA family of phosphated alkyl oligoglucoside surfactants was prepared by reacting alkyl oligoglucosides with phosphorus oxychloride. The alkyl oligoglucosides were obtained by an usual method in which the glucose is reacted with a fatty alcohol containing 10–18 carbon atoms. These novel phosphated surfactants have been found to exhibit good surface tension, foaming and wetting power. The critical micelle concentration was found to increase with the length of hydrocarbon chain of the surfactant. The surface excess concentration and the interfacial area per surfactant molecule are reported. These phosphated surfactants also exhibit a good performance to improve the whiteness and wetting of cotton fabrics in a hydrogen oxide bleaching system, and they are also found to be more biodegradable than conventional surfactants.

Improving the Resistance of Sulfur Dyes to Oxidation

A method that substantially improves the oxidative bleaching resistance of sulfur dyed textiles is reported. Sulfur dyes are known for their poor bleaching resistance due to the sensitivity of the sulfur linkages to oxidation. This disadvantage severely prohibits the broad application of sulfur dyes because of the existence of the activated oxidative bleaching agents in many commercial detergents. In this study, 1% (w/w) of lanthanum triacetate was applied to sulfur dyed cotton fabrics via a simple padding procedure to chemically stabilize the sulfur linkages. The treatment could render sulfur dyed cotton fabrics a reduction in color changes of about 50% after laundering with detergent containing a bleaching agent, an improvement in strength retention of almost 100% after aging and an improvement in staining resistance of at least 0.5-class for about 1/3 of the sulfur dyes examined. These improvements were proved durable to repeated launderings.

Influence of Eri silk fibre on the physical characteristics and dyeing properties of Eri silk/cotton blended yarn

Different blending ratios of Eri silk and cotton fibres were prepared. The optimum bleaching condition chosen for the blends containing 0–25% silk content was the oxidative bleaching method, whereas the blends at 50–100% should be bleached using the two‐stage bleaching method (oxidative bleaching followed by reductive bleaching). These conditions did affect the force–displacement characteristics of the fibres with no yield point. X‐Ray diffraction results showed that the percentage of crystallinity of the cotton yarn tended to increase after bleaching, whereas the percentage of crystallinity of the Eri yarn decreased marginally. Dyeing properties of the blended yarns were investigated using warm‐dyeing reactive dyes. Percentage exhaustion and the colour yield of the blends tended to decrease with the increasing silk content. Shade variation was observed on the yarns at different blend ratios. This was expected to be caused by the different physical nature of Eri silk and cotton fibres. Consequently, the dye uptake and visual shade of each dye on the two fibres were different.

Activated peroxide bleaching of regenerated bamboo fiber using a butyrolactam-based cationic bleach activator

Regenerated bamboo fibers are potentially a valuable source of renewable fibers for use in a wide variety of applications. As with almost all natural fibers, inherent yellowness must be reduced or eliminated in order for the fibers to be used effectively in processes such as dyeing. Oxidative bleaching in the form of hot alkaline hydrogen peroxide is the most common method for bleaching cellulosic fibers. However, significant fiber damage results, especially in the case of regenerated bamboo. Recently, more benign oxidative bleaching methods have been developed using so-called bleach activators. Reported is an effective bleaching method using a novel bleach activator, N-[4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]butyrolactam chloride (TBBC). The ratio of TBBC to hydrogen peroxide and pH were found to be critical to achieving effective bleaching at low temperature. Using equimolar amounts of TBBC and hydrogen peroxide at pH 7 and 50 °C, comparable whiteness and less fiber damage compared with conventional peroxide bleaching was obtained. However, at pH 11.5, TBBC had no effect on whiteness.

Alternative Methods for Cellulose Preparation for AMS Measurement

The main methods applied to clean plant material for radiocarbon dating are not compound-specific and generally remove only the easily exchangeable components by an acid-base-acid sequence and additional optional steps like Soxhlet extraction to remove resins and oxidative bleaching with NaClO2. The products are normally clean enough for standard 14C measurement, but in some cases it is desirable to have pure cellulose, which remains unchanged and immobile over longer time ranges, better representing the original plant material. In this work, 2 more compound-specific but still simple methods were tested to separate the cellulose from wood. The viscose method is based on the xanthification process used in the textile industry, where the alkali-cellulose with CS2 forms a soluble cellulose xanthate, which is then extracted and cellulose is recovered. The second procedure is based on the wood/cellulose dissolution in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM]Cl, when the dissolved cellulose could be precipitated again by simply adding a water-acetone mixture. This process was recently reported, but still not used in sample preparation procedures for 14C dating.

Ecofriendly laccase–hydrogen peroxide/ultrasound-assisted bleaching of linen fabrics and its influence on dyeing efficiency

This study evaluates the bleaching efficiency of enzymatically scoured linen fabrics using a combined laccase–hydrogen peroxide bleaching process with and without ultrasonic energy, with the goal of obtaining fabrics with high whiteness levels, well preserved tensile strength and higher dye uptake. The effect of the laccase enzyme and the combined laccase–hydrogen peroxide bleaching process with and without ultrasound has been investigated with regard to whiteness value, tensile strength, dyeing efficiency and dyeing kinetics using both reactive and cationic dyes. The bleached linen fabrics were characterized using X-ray diffraction and by measuring tensile strength and lightness. The dyeing efficiency and kinetics were characterized by measuring dye uptake and colour fastness. The results indicated that ultrasound was an effective technique in the combined laccase–hydrogen peroxide bleaching process of linen fabrics. The whiteness values expressed as lightness of linen fabrics is enhanced by using ultrasonic energy. The measured colour strength values were found to be slightly better for combined laccase–hydrogen peroxide/ultrasound-assisted bleached fabrics than for combined laccase–hydrogen peroxide for both reactive and cationic dyes. The fastness properties of the fabrics dyed with reactive dye were better than those obtained when using cationic dye. The time/dye uptake isotherms were also enhanced when using combined laccase–hydrogen peroxide/ultrasound-assisted bleached fabric, which confirms the efficiency of ultrasound in the combined oxidative bleaching process. The dyeing rate constant, half-time of dyeing and dyeing efficiency have been calculated and discussed.

Energy efficient refining of black spruce TMP by using acid hydrogen peroxide: Part 1. A pilot plant study

The potential of using acid hydrogen peroxide under Fenton conditions to lowerthe electrical energy consumed during the production of Black spruce (Piceamariana) thermomechanical pulp (TMP) was investigated in pilot scale. Thechemical system, which consisted of ferrous sulphate, hydrogen peroxide andoptionally an enhancer (such as a chelating agent), was evaluated as an inter-stagetreatment. The produced TMPs were thoroughly characterised in order to explainthe effect of the chemical system on fibre development and to be able to propose amechanism for the impact on refining energy reduction. The possibility to improvethe optical properties by washing, chelating and sodium dithionite or hydrogenperoxide bleaching the treated pulps was evaluated. The system of lignocellulosicmaterial, a Norway spruce (Picea abies) TMP, and Fenton chemistry was alsoevaluated in a model study to understand more about how conditions such as e.g.initial pH, dissolved organic material and reaction time affect the reactions.Ferrous and ferric ions (free and chelated) and different anions were evaluated.Moreover, it was examined whether hydroxyl radicals could be detected andmonitored.The results obtained in pilot scale showed that it is possible to significantly reducethe specific energy consumption by approximately 20% and 35% at a freenessvalue of 100 ml CSF or a tensile index of 45 Nm/g by using 1% and 2% hydrogenperoxide respectively. The energy reduction was obtained without any substantialchange to the fractional composition of the pulp, although tear strength wasslightly reduced, as were brightness and pulp yield. No major differences betweenthe reference pulp and the chemically treated pulps were found with respect tofibre length, width or cross-sectional dimensions. However, the acid hydrogenperoxide-treated pulps tended to have more collapsed fibres, higher flexibility, alarger specific surface area and a lower coarseness value. The yield lossiiiaccompanying the treatment was mainly a consequence of degradedhemicelluloses. It was also found that the total charge of the chemically treatedpulps was higher compared to the reference pulps; something that may haveinfluenced the softening behaviour of the fibre wall.A washing or chelating procedure could significantly reduce the metal ion contentof the chemically treated TMPs. The amount of iron could be further reduced to alevel similar to that of untreated pulps by performing a reducing agent-assistedchelating stage with dithionite. The discoloration could not, however, becompletely eliminated. The brightness decrease of the treated pulps was thereforenot only caused by the greater iron content in the pulp, but was also dependent onthe type of iron compound and/or other coloured compounds connected with theacid hydrogen peroxide treatment. Oxidative bleaching using hydrogen peroxidewas more effective than reductive bleaching using sodium dithionite in regainingthe brightness that was lost during the energy reductive treatment.From the model study and by using a chemiluminescence method, it could beconcluded that hydroxyl radicals were present in the system of Fenton chemicalsand lignocellulosic material (TMP). Initial pH, retention time, pulp consistency,type of catalyst (free or chelated) and dissolved organic material had an impact onthe reactions between TMP and acid hydrogen peroxide. Different anions(sulphate, nitrate and chloride) of ferric ion salt gave a similar catalytic effect.There appeared to be more reactions with the TMP when there was less dissolvedorganic material in the liquid phase from the start. A catalyst of ferrous sulphatehad a greater impact on the pulp (increased total fibre charge and carbonyl groups,more dissolved organic material in filtrate) than ferric ions chelated withethylenediaminetetraacetic acid at an initial pH of about 3-7. If using ferric-EDG(ethanol diglycinic acid) as catalyst, the measured effect on the pulp was similar orless compared to using ferrous sulphate. Ferric-EDG, however, gave higherhydrogen peroxide consumption and more detectable hydroxyl radicals than usingferrous sulphate (initial pH 5-8). It is likely that the iron catalyst must bind to theTMP, or be in close proximity to it, for the hydroxyl radicals to be able to react withthe material.A mechanism was proposed: the hydroxyl radicals generated in the Fentonreaction will probably attack and oxidise the available outer fibre surfaces,weakening these layers, and simultaneously dissolve some of the organic material.This can facilitate fibre development, give a better bonding pulp and reduce theelectrical energy required during refining.

J. Cosmet. Sci., 59, 263–289 (July/August 2008) True porosity measurement of hair: A new way to study hair damage mechanisms

Presented at the Annual Scientific Seminar of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Anaheim, CA, May 11, 2007.SynopsisThis study employs a novel method, gas sorption (1), to quantify the porosity characteristics of hair by determining total pore volume, adsorption pore‐size distribution, and the surface area of damaged hair. Damage mechanisms were studied by comparing the different pore volume and surface area resulting from two different types of damage: chemical and UV. Hair color measurement and tensile strength, both reflecting the changes in hair cortex, were also employed in this study. The results suggest that hair damage caused by oxidative bleach and UV oxidation follows different pathways. Chemical damage (oxidative bleach) nearly triples the hair surface area in the first minute of bleaching due to the increase in the number of pores, followed by a sudden drop after 10 min of bleaching from smaller pores breaking down into larger ones. In contrast, UV damage shows an immediate loss in surface area in the first 200 hr of exposure and a gradual increase as exposure time continues.

Depigmentation of Pigmented Wool

Pigmented wool yarn contains an excessive amount of melanin responsible for its black or brown color. Depigmented wool yarns were prepared by pre-mordanting then acidic rinsing and finally bleaching. Some of the physical and chemical properties of the treated yarns such as color, strength and alkali solubility were tested. The results showed that the oxidative/reductive bleaching process produced wool yarns with better optical properties than the oxidative bleaching process, but increasing concentrations of thiourea further decreased the yarn tensile strength. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed fiber surface damage was greatest following the oxidative/reductive bleaching process. The results also indicated that minimal fiber damage could be obtained using commercial ferrous sulfate in acidic media (citric acid) with improved iron absorbency.

Resonance Raman monitoring of lipid oxidation in muscle foods

SummaryA non‐invasive optical method, Resonance Raman spectroscopy was used to follow the progression of lipid oxidation in mechanically separated turkey (MST) through oxidative bleaching of β‐carotene. Endogenous or 20–50 ppm exogenously added β‐carotene in MST served as an inert marker of lipid oxidation, and the corresponding detectable Raman signals were highly correlated with the concentration of lipid oxidation products in muscle tissue based on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Adding 100 ppm β‐carotene accelerated lipid oxidation in MST, and thus should not be used. No carotenoid Raman response was obtained for washed cod with added hemoglobin, which indicates that washed cod was devoid of any endogenous β‐carotene. Moreover, the absence of any heme protein Raman response eliminates the use of heme as an alternative biomarker to β‐carotene at the excitation wavelength employed. These studies indicate that resonance Raman detection of endogenous or exogenous β‐carotene can be used as a simple and non‐invasive method for assessing lipid oxidation status in finely comminuted muscle tissues.

Evaluation of a combined thiourea and hydrogen peroxide regimen to bleach bloodstained teeth

Current techniques for intra-coronal bleaching of stained root-filled teeth employ oxidative bleaching with hydrogen peroxide. However, concern over the potential for invasive cervical resorption following the use of hydrogen peroxide has been expressed by many researchers, and recommendations have been made to limit the use of this agent. A reductive-oxidative bleaching process using a thiourea and hydrogen peroxide regimen is proposed as an effective and safer bleaching combination. The efficacy of this novel bleaching regimen is evaluated in this study. The study involved a quantitative and qualitative spectrophotometric assessment of the ability of two amine (bleaching) agents, aqueous thiourea and acidified thiourea, to alter the absorption spectra of haemoglobin and methaemoglobin compared to hydrogen peroxide. In addition, extracted premolar teeth discoloured by blood were subjected to different bleaching regimens using amine reducing agents and hydrogen peroxide. The change in the colour of the bloodstained dentine samples was measured at each stage of the bleaching process with a Photometer and Reflectance Densitometer. Comparisons of different treatments were made using a method of least significant difference and/or analysis of variance. Spectrophotometric studies showed that acidified thiourea solution greatly reduced the colour of the haemoglobin and methaemoglobin in the visible range (330-760 nm). Aqueous thiourea had no effect on the presence of haemoglobin and methaemoglobin. Reflection Densitometer and Photometer scores indicate that the greatest bleaching effect was achieved by the combined acidified thiourea and hydrogen peroxide regimen. The recognition that bleaching discoloured teeth is a chemical process, which can be achieved by both reducing and oxidizing agents, offers the possibility of developing new and safer clinical bleaching protocols. It is concluded that the bleaching regimen which employs the sequential use of 0.1 M acidified thiourea and 30% w/v hydrogen peroxide is as effective at bleaching bloodstained dentine as 30% w/v hydrogen peroxide alone. However, the addition of thiourea to the bleaching regimen has the potential benefit of reducing the level of damaging hydroxyl radicals and achieving a safer bleaching process.