Method for hydrogen peroxide bleaching in acid or neutral solutions

Abstract

A process for scouring, desizing and bleaching cotton greige goods comprising immersing the goods for a time sufficient to achieve commercial brightness in an aqueous solution having a temperature in the range from 100.degree. to 212.degree. F and consisting of from 3 to 70% of volume hydrogen peroxide, water and sufficient hydroxide, if necessary, to adjust the solution of a pH in the range 2 to 7, the solution being substantially free of heavy metal ions and maintained out of contact with all metals while the goods are immersed therein and cycling a portion of the solution through a filtration means to remove solid impurities therefrom while maintaining the volume, composition and pH of the solution in contact with the goods substantially the same. In a preferred form of the invention, the scouring, desizing and bleaching are accomplished simultaneously. In another embodiment of the invention, the goods are immersed in alkaline scour solution for from 5 seconds to 31/2 minutes prior to bleaching in the hydrogen peroxide solution, the alkaline scour solution having a temperature in the range 160.degree. to 212.degree. F and a pH from 10 to 14. In still another embodiment of the invention, the goods are immersed in an alkaline scour solution and an acid solution, in any sequence, prior to bleaching in the hydrogen peroxide solution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.