Process of bleaching fabric

Abstract

The present invention encompasses a process of pretreating a fabric which comprises the steps of applying a liquid bleaching composition in its neat form onto said fabric and allowing said composition to remain in contact with said fabric for an effective amount of time before said fabric is washed and/or rinsed, wherein said composition comprises chlorine dioxide. The present invention further encompasses the use of a composition comprising chlorine dioxide in laundry pretreatment.

Description

Claims

1) A process of pretreating a fabric which comprises the steps of applying a liquid bleaching composition comprising chlorine dioxide in its neat form onto said fabric and allowing said composition to remain in contact with said fabric for an effective amount of time before said fabric is washed and/or rinsed.

2) The process according to claim 1 wherein the composition comprises from 0.0001% to 10% by weight of the total composition of chlorine dioxide.

3) The process according to claim 1 wherein the composition comprises from 0.001% to 2% by weight of the total composition of chlorine dioxide.

4) The process according to claim 1 wherein the composition comprises from 0.01% to 0.5% by weight of the total composition of chlorine dioxide.

5) The process according to claim 1 wherein the composition comprises chlorine dioxide and peroxygen bleach.

6) The process according to claim 5 wherein the peroxygen bleach comprises hydrogen peroxide or a water soluble source thereof.

7) The process according to claim 5 wherein said composition comprises from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition of said peroxygen bleach or mixtures thereof.

8) The process according to claim 5 wherein said composition comprises from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the total composition of said peroxygen bleach or mixtures thereof.

9) The process according to claim 5 wherein said composition comprises from 1% to 7% by weight of the total composition of said peroxygen bleach or mixtures thereof.

10) The process according to claim 1 wherein said composition comprises surfactants and/or polymers.

11) The process according to claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises dye maintenance agent.

12) The process according to claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises a chlorine scavengers.

13) The process according to claim 1 claims wherein the composition is packaged in a multi-compartment container comprising at least a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein said first compartment contains a composition comprising a chlorine dioxide precursor and wherein said second compartment contains a composition comprising a chlorine dioxide activator.

14) The process according to claim 13 wherein the chlorine dioxide precursor of the composition is chosen from the group consisting of sodium chlorite (NaClO2), sodium chlorate (NaClO3), potassium chlorite (KClO2), potassium chlorate (KClO3), lithium chlorite (LiClO2), lithium chlorate (LiClO3), chlorous acid (HClO2) or chloric acid (HClO3).

15) The process according to claim 14 wherein the chlorine dioxide precursor comprises sodium chlorite or sodium chlorate.

16) The process according to claim 13 wherein the chlorine dioxide precursor of the composition, in said first compartment, comprises from 0.005% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

17) The process according to claim 13 wherein the chlorine dioxide precursor of the composition, in said first compartment, comprises from 0.01% to 5% by weight of the total composition.

18) The process according to claim 13 wherein the chlorine dioxide precursor of the composition, in said first compartment, comprises from 1% to 3% by weight of the total composition.

19) The process according to claim 13 wherein the composition in said first compartment has a pH equal or above 7.

20) The process according to claim 13 wherein the composition in said second compartment has a pH below 7.

21) The process according to claim 13 wherein the composition in said second compartment has a pH from 1 to 5.

22) The process according to claim 13 wherein the composition in said second compartment has a pH from 3 to 5.

23) The process according to claim 13 wherein said chlorine dioxide activator comprises a source of acidity or an acid.

24) The process according to claim 13 wherein said chlorine dioxide activator comprises citric acid or oxalic acid or succinic acid.