IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO BLEACHING COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

摘要

The invention provides a bleaching composition of pH 10-14 which comprises an oxygen transfer agent and hydrogen peroxide. It is believed that the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with the imine quat. oxygen transfer agents proceeds through a different route than that of the organic and inorganic peroxides. As a consequence, the formation of acyl hydroxamate is significantly reduced. Furthermore it is believed that when hydrogen peroxide is used as the bleaching agent in the pH range indicated, a surprising improvement in the efficacy of the bleaching system occurs and it is possible to formulate peroxide based systems which have efficacy approaching or exceeding that of hypochlorite without the disadvantages associated with hypochlorite. A further aspect of the present invention provides a method for bleaching a stained substrate which comprises the step of treating the substrate with a bleaching composition of pH 10-14, which bleaching composition comprises an oxygen transfer agent and hydrogen peroxide.