Bleaching:

The process in which natural coloring matter is removed from a fiber to make it
white. The process may be used on fiber, yarn, or fabric. Prior to the bleaching of
a fabric, preliminary purification processes should be used. These processes
remove applied encrustants (desizing) and natural encrustants (scouring or boil-
off) so that the bleaching agent may act uniformly on the material free of
impediment.

Bleaching is also classified as a purification process and varies with the content
of the substrate or fibrous content of the material. It should not be confused with
the stripping process, which is the removal of applied color.

The fabric off the loom is called gray, grey, or greige goods to distinguish it from
the partially or completely finished fabric.

The three most prominent commercial bleaching processes are the peroxide, the
chlorine, and the chlorite, in that order.

In home bleaching the predominant bleach is the chlorine bleach, followed by the
use of peroxygen compounds such as persulfates and perborates. The latter two
are recommended for minimum care and permanent-press fabrics to preclude
the yellowing of the whites and the stripping of colored fabrics, which are always
potential problems when chlorine bleaches are used.

Optical bleaching uses organic compounds which are capable of absorbing

waves shorter than visual waves and emitting waves within the visible range. The
most notable of the short waves absorbed is the ultraviolet light present in
daylight. These compounds absorb ultraviolet light which is less than 400
micrometers (0.02 in.) and emit blue light which is in the visible range of 400–700
micrometers (0.02–0.03 in.). This emitted blue light will counteract the yellow on
the fabric surface and by the subtractive theory of color will produce a white.
These agents are also characterized as brighteners and are extensively used in
household detergents.

There are several bleaching systems which are classified as combination

bleaches because two different bleaching agents are used together or in tandem.
These have been projected to lower the cost, lower the degradation, or shorten
the cycle as well as to preclude equipment damage in certain cases. See also
Natural fiber; Oxidizing agent.
Types Of Bleaching:
(Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) Bleaching)
The H2O2 bleaching is the most common bleaching method, and is environmentally
friendly (degradable into water and oxygen). The best bleaching whiteness can be
obtained at pH 11 adjusted using caustic soda.

However, if metal ions, such as iron ions and copper ions are present in fabrics or in
water, catalytic action of these metal ions causes abnormal degradation of H2O2, which
may sometimes cause embrittlement of fabrics until holes (pin-holes) are generated due
to the excessive degradation.

Usually, the abnormal degradation of H2O2 and the resulting generation of pin-holes are
prevented by adding a chelating agent. Also, as a stabilizer for H2O2, sodium silicate
has been conventionally employed. The obtained bleaching whiteness is favorable.
However, the use of sodium silicate has the following disadvantages. Silica scales are
generated due to calcium ions and magnesium ions reacted with silica ions. The
generated silica scales are adhered to machinery, damaging fabrics, or undermining
hand of the fabrics.

This case, however, suffers from a contradiction that complete removal of calcium ions
and magnesium ions will undermine the stability of H2O2.

To solve the disadvantages and contradiction, a non-silicate type stabilizer containing no

sodium silicate has been developed, although the cost is higher than sodium silicate.

Furthermore, when dyeing is performed without a drying process after the H2O2
bleaching, the problem of residual H2O2 arises. 10ppm of residual H2O2 or more
causes dyeing problems, although it depends on a type of dye. To degrade the residual
H2O2, a reducing agent or the like, or an enzyme (catalase) can be used. The enzyme
appears as a current mainstream.

Sodium Chlorite (NaClO2) Bleaching)

The NaClO2 bleaching is performed after pH adjustment to 3.5 with an acid such
as a formic acid. It provides soft hand with less embrittlement of cotton.
Compared with the H2O2 bleaching, some insist that even bluish (?) whiteness
can be achieved with the NaClO2 bleaching.

Also, the NaClO2 bleaching is free from worries about pin-hole generation, as
often occurs in the H2O2 bleaching. However, a harmful chlorine dioxide gas is
generated during the bleaching process, and therefore, suitable measures
including the equipments need to be taken for metallic corrosion problems and
dechlorination purposes. After bleaching, a dechlorination process needs to be
provided. A trace chlorine which exists in fabrics reacts with nitrogen compound
to form chloroamine, or cause yellowing of the fabrics when exposed to light and
heat.
Note here that a special reducing agent, sodium thiosulfate (hypo), or hydrogen
peroxide (so-called, `cosmetic bleaching`) is used for the dechlorination
purposes.

(Sodium Hypochlorite (NaClO) bleaching)

The NaClO bleaching is characterized in that the bleaching is performed at room

temperatures without requiring a heating apparatus such as a steamer, and that
the chemical cost is low. However, the disadvantages of the NaClO bleaching
include relatively low bleaching whiteness and embrittlement of fabrics.

No particular pH adjustment is required in the NaClO bleaching. The NaClO

bleaching is usually employed for bleaching fabrics after Kier-scouring, or for
bleaching towels. For towels, the two-step bleaching comprising the NaClO
bleaching and the H2O2 bleaching is preformed to obtain full whiteness. The
NaClO bleaching is also employed for jeans fade adjustment, etc.

Note here that a dechlorination process needs to be provided as in the NaClO2

bleaching. Since `chlorine free` is a recent trend, like PRTR, a method without
using chlorine is being examined. The same applies to NaClO.