Bleaching
L-3
Tanzeena Refat Tumpa
Lecturer
Dept. of Textile Engg.
Hypochlorite Bleaching Principle
In textile hypochlorite bleaching sodium
hypochlorite [NaOCl] or calcium hypochlorite
[Ca(OCl)2] may be used as hypochlorite bleaching
agent.
In the earlier decades calcium hypochlorite was the
only bleaching agent dominated in the bleaching
sections.Calcium hypochlorite is in the powder form
called Bleaching powder.The application of calcium
and sodium hypochlorite for bleaching requires
dissolution of bleaching powder.
Ca(OCl)2 + H2O → Ca(OH)2 + CaCl2 + Cl2↑
NaOCl + H2O → NaOH + NaCl + Cl2↑
Ca(OH)2, calcium hydroxide gives the required pH (9.5
to 11.0) in the bath. Cl2 is reacts with water to produce
HOCl for bleaching.
HOCl dissociates to produce nascent oxygen,which is
responsible for oxidizing action.
HOCl HCl + [O]
After Treatments: i)Souring: Ca(OCl)2 reacts with
atmospheric CO2 to give CaCO3 as white precipitate,
which does not occur in case of sodium hypochlorite.
CaCO3 deposited on the fabric causing harsh handling
and uneven dyeing, hence it has to separate and
souring (acid treatment) is done to remove it.
Ca(OCl)2 + CO2 + HO2 CaCO3 + HOCl
CaCO3 + 2HCl CaCl2 + CO2 + H2 O
ii)Antichlor Treatment: In case of hypochlorite
bleaching hypochlorous ion (OCl -) is produced,
which will react with residual protein to form
chloramines. Gradually cotton becomes yellowish
due to forming of HCl. Sodium bisulphite, potassium
bisulphite,sodium metabisulphite,sodium
thiosulphate are commonly used for antichlor
treatment.
• Advantages:
– Cheapest
– Variety of machine can be used
– Large batches fabric can be processed
– Simple machine can be used
• Disadvantages:
– There is a danger of damaging the fabric due to accidental
lowering of pH.
– The process is slow, it is carried out at low temperature and it is
therefore difficult to integrate into rapid continuous operation.
– There is danger of yellowish upon storage.
– The relatively high salt loads in the process are undesirable for
ecological reason
Bleaching with Sodium Chlorite,NaClO2
• It is the most fiber protective bleaching
method that attains an optimum degree of
whiteness. Sodium Chlorite, NaClO2 is used for
cotton,nylon, plolyester,acrylic,rayon or
blended fabric.This treatment is carried out in
acidic condition,which releases ClO2 a
corrosive,toxic,yellow brown gas.In Chlorite
bleaching ClO2 and HClO2 are bleaching
species.
• Reactions:
2NaClO2 + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2HClO2
HClO2 ClO2 + H+
HClO2 HCl + 2O
A typical recipe:
NaClO2 (80%) = 1-3g/l
Wetting agent = 0.5-1g/l
Buffering salt = 0.5-1g/l
Detergent = 1-2g/l
Temperature = 90-95°C
Time = 30-45 min
pH = 3.5-4
M:L = 1:10
• Working Procedure: The bleaching bath contains
wetting agent,detergent,buffering salt and acetic
acid as auxiliaries.Optimum pH is 3-5.At a low
pH(<3) HCl and HClO2 starts degrading
cellulose.After adding sodium chlorite
temperature is increased at a rate of 2°C/min upto
boiling temperature. After 30-45 minutes
temperature is lowered to 60-70°C.<50°C no
bleaching takes place.After rinsing several times
antichlor treatment can be done to remove
residual chlorine.
Fig: Semi-Continuous Pad –Roll machine
Advantages
▪ Permanent whiteness.
▪ High brightness degree (especially for acrylic fibers)
▪ Negligible degradation of fibers (1-2% weight loss for cellulosic fibers and no
attack to the polymeric chains in the synthetic fibers)
▪ Lower environmental impact of wastewaters (negligible level of COD).
▪ Versatile bleaching agent for cellulosics, synthetics and blends, especially poly-
cotton blends. It is also safe for those synthetic fibers which are sensitive to
alkali.
▪ Non sensitive to metal ions such as iron and Water hardness under acidic
conditions.
Disadvantages
▪ It is expensive as compared to hydrogen peroxide.
▪ It cannot be used for wool and silk.
▪ Chlorine dioxide is highly corrosive to metals and toxic in nature.
▪ Bleaching in neutral and acidic pH damage cotton.
