Low temperature bleaching of flax fibres with peracetic acid

ABSTRACT

Water retted grey flax fibers were bleached with activated peracetic acid atlow temperatures. Peracetic acid was prepared in situ by perhydrolysis of aceticanhydride with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of sodium tetraborate. 2,2'-Bipyridine was used to form trischelate complex with Fe2+ ions naturallypresent in the fibers. The Fe2+ -bipyridine complex activates the bleachingprocess. Sodium dodecyl sulfate was used as a stabilizer to peracetic acid. Optimum bleaching formulation and bleaching conditions were studied. Theeffect of pretreatment of grey flax fibers on its accessibility towardsactivated peracetic acid bleaching was also studied