Bleaching process and compositions

#The present invention relates to compositions and processes for bleaching fabrics. The bleaching compositions herein contain certain long chain acyl compounds which activate common peroxygen bleaching compounds to provide stable, yet highly effective, color-safe bleaches especially suitable for use at relatively low temperatures.

#The use of bleaching agents as adjuncts to fabric laundering operations is a well established practice, and in many instances a recognized necessity. The most familiar method for bleaching fabrics to remove stains, especially in the context of a home laundering operation, is to add an oxidizing bleach directly to the laundering liquor. Bleaching agents found to be suitable in this regard are well known in the art and include chlorine bleaches, e.g., the alkali metal hypochlorites, and active oxygen-releasing bleaches, e.g., peroxygen bleaching compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, inorganic peroxygen compounds and organic peroxy acids.

#The peroxygen bleaches might be expected to be preferred for use over the harsher chlorine bleaches since they are markedly superior as regards fabric handle and absorbency, are safe to fabric colors and are non-yellowing when used to bleach white fabrics. In contrast, the use of stronger bleaches such as the hypochlorites tends to discolor or yellow fabrics over a period of time. Moreover, fabrics bleached with the hypochlorites eventually exhibit significant loss of strength, thus severely curtailing their useful life.

#A bleaching composition of the instant invention was formulated as follows:

#______________________________________ Concentration Component Percent by Weight ______________________________________ Sodium perborate tetrahydrate 25% Sodium tetrapyrophosphate 12% Isopropenyl hexanoate 26% *Triton Cf-87 37% 100% ______________________________________ *Benzyl ether capped alkyl phenol ethoxylate, commercially available from the Rohm and Haas Company.

#The isopropenyl hexanoate was premixed with the Triton CF-87 to form a homogeneous liquid phase. The mixture was added to a solution having a pH of about 8.9 containing the sodium perborate and sodium tetrapyrophosphate, in an amount such that the above bleaching composition represented about 0.04% by weight of the bleaching solution. The composition effectively bleached a mixed bundle of dingy soiled fabrics without any yellowing or fabric damage at a solution temperature of 40.degree. C.