Enzymatic perhydrolysis system and method of use for bleaching

A process for bleaching materials, comprising the steps of contacting the materials with an aqueous solution and combining with the aqueous solution an activated oxidant system for in situ generation of peracid by enzymatic perhydrolysis, comprising:

• (a) a source of peroxygen;
• (b) an enzyme having lipase and/or esterase activity;
• and
• (c) a functionalized ester substrate having the structure ##STR17## wherein R has at least one carbon atom and is a straight chain or branch chain alkyl optionally substituted with one or more functional groups and X comprises a functional group, the functionalized ester substrate being selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) glycerides having the structure ##STR18## wherein R.sub.1 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.12, R.sub.2 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 or H and R.sub.3 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 or H;
• (ii) ethylene glycol derivatives having the structure ##STR19## wherein n=1-10 and R.sub.1 is defined as above;
• and (iii) propylene glycol derivatives having the structure ##STR20## wherein R.sub.1 and n are defined as above, the enzyme and ester substrate being selected in combination and employed in selected amounts for interacting with each other in the presence of hydrogen peroxide from the peroxygen source to produce a peracid having the formula RCOOOH wherein R.sub.1 of (i), (ii) and (iii) is a substituent having from one to twelve carbon atoms with the newly created peracid compound producing available oxygen of at least about 0.1 ppm in an aqueous solution for providing enhanced stain removing ability, the functionalized ester substrate being incapable of substantial chemical perhydrolysis.

A process comprising the step of combining in an aqueous medium an activated oxidant system for in situ generation for peracid by enzymatic perhydrolysis, the activated oxidant system comprising:

• (a) a source of peroxygen;
• (b) an enzyme having lipase and/or esterase activity;
• and
• (c) a functionalized ester substrate having the structure ##STR21## wherein R has at least one carbon atom and is a straight chain or branched chain alkyl optionally substituted with one or more functional groups and X comprises a functional group, the functionalized ester substrate being selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) glycerides having the structure ##STR22## wherein R.sub.1 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.12, R.sub.2 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 or H and R.sub.3 =C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 or H;
• (ii) ethylene glycol derivatives having the structure ##STR23## wherein n=1-10 and R.sub.1 is defined as above;
• and (iii) propylene glycol derivatives having the structure ##STR24## wherein R.sub.1 and n are defined as above, the enzyme and ester substrate being selected in combination and employed in selected amounts for interacting with each other in the presence of hydrogen peroxide from the peroxygen source to produce a peracid having the formula RCOOOH wherein R.sub.1 of (i), (ii) and (iii) is a substituent having from one to twelve carbon atoms with the newly created peracid compound producing available oxygen of at least about 0.1 ppm in an aqueous solution for providing enhanced stain removing ability, the functionalized ester substrate being incapable of substantial chemical perhydrolysis.