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Preventing discoloration of squalene‐soiled cotton fabrics with antioxidants
Author(s) -
Chi YongSeung,
Obendorf S. Kay
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of surfactants and detergents
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.349
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1558-9293
pISSN - 1097-3958
DOI - 10.1007/s11743-998-0053-z
Subject(s) - squalene , chemistry , bleach , sodium hypochlorite , cleaning agent , polymerization , autoxidation , food science , organic chemistry , polymer
Removal of discoloration caused by aged oily soils is difficult because oily soils undergo autoxidation, which results in polymerization and formation of chromophores. Use of antioxidants and a reducing agent was investigated for their impact on appearance retention and soil removal. The effect of a reducing agent, sodium dithionite, on the removal of aged squalene from cotton fabrics was studied as a pretreatment to laundering, which enhanced the removal of squalene as well as whiteness restoration. Increases in treatment concentration and time increased color removal. However, no significant increase was found in oil removal, suggesting that the role of the reducing agent is mainly a reductive bleaching action. Thus, the color will probably reverse by oxidation over time making this approach a not‐so‐promising laundry treatment. As a method of preventing discoloration of oily soiled textile materials, antioxidants Irganox ® 1010, t ‐butylhydroxyanisole and α‐tocopherol were examined; they were found to be effective antioxidants for this purpose by preventing the discoloration of squalene upon aging. With Irganox ® 1010, this prevention occurred without decreasing the detergency of the oil. Most importantly, these antioxidants either did not stain the substrate or showed very low levels of staining upon usage. The biggest barrier to applying antioxidants on textiles is their hydrophobic nature. A search for water‐soluble antioxidants with nonstaining and good oxidation inhibiting properties is necessary.