1 Answers
Bleach activators are compounds that allow a lower washing temperature than would be required otherwise to achieve the full activity of bleaching agents in the wash liquor. Bleaching agents, usually peroxides, are usually sufficiently active only at 60 °C and up. With bleach activators, this activity can be achieved at lower temperatures. Bleach activators are included in some laundry detergent powders , some laundry additive powders, and a few laundry additive pods. They are not included in any liquid laundry detergents. Bleach activators react with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution to form peroxy acids. Peroxy acids are more active bleaches than hydrogen peroxide at lower temperatures , but are too unstable to be stored in their active form, and hence must be generated in situ.
The most common bleach activators used commercially are tetraacetylethylenediamine and sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate. NOBS is the main activator used in the U.S.A. and Japan, TAED is the main activator used in Europe.