GB871814A - Improvements in and relating to a washing process and compositions therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Textiles, for example of cotton, are washed in an aqueous bath comprising (a) a detergent selected from the group consisting of soaps and synthetic nonionic and anionic detergents, particularly sodium lauryl sulphate and dodecylbenzene sulphonate, (b) an alkali metal, preferably potassium, permonosulphate, and (c) an alkali metal, preferably sodium, chloride, the alkalinity of the solution being adjusted to pH 7,5-9,5. The molecular ratio of (c) to (b) is generally 10 : 1 to 60 : 1 and the amount of (b) in solution should be such as to provide 10-100 p.p.m. available oxygen. The bath may also contain sodium tripoly- and/or pyrophosphate, salts of nitrilotriacetic and/or ethylene-diamine tetracetic acid (generally in amounts so as to provide in the bath a concentration of not more than 50 p.p.m. and preferably 2,5-10 p.p.m.), sodium sulphate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, optical bleach and anti-tarnish agents, perfume and colour.ALSO:A detergent composition comprises (a) one or more detergents selected from the group consisting of soaps, and synthetic nonionic and anionic detergents, particularly sodium lauryl sulphate or dodecylbenzene sulphonate and suitably in amounts of 10-30% by weight, (b) an alkali metal, preferably potassium, permonosulphate, and (c) an alkali metal, preferably sodium, chloride, the alkalinity of the composition being such as to provide pH 7.5-9.5 at 50 DEG C. at a concentration in water of 25 p.p.m.; the molecular ratio of (c) to (b) is generally 10:1 to 60:1, and the amount of (b) should be such as to be equivalent to 0.2-2% available oxygen based on the whole composition. The composition may also contain sodium tripoly- and/or pyro-phosphate (usually 5-30% by weight), salts of nitrilotriacetic and/or ethylenediamine tetracetic acid (generally in amounts up to 1%, preferably 0.05-0.2%, by weight), sodium sulphate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, optical bleach and anti-tarnish agents, perfume and colour. The compositions may be suitably prepared by making a slurry of, and then spray-drying, all ingredients except the permonosulphate, which is mixed in subsequently.