Use of fibre comprising composite fibres of cellulose and cellulose acetate as bleach activator

Abstract

The present invention provides the use of fibres comprising one or more composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate, as a bleach activator.

1 . A method of using fibres as a bleach activator, comprising the step of:
 mixing the fibres with a bleach solution comprising a peroxide and/or peroxide precursor,   wherein the fibres comprise one or more composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the cellulose to the cellulose acetate in the composite filaments is from 99.9:0.1 to 0.1:99.9, from 99:1 to 1:99, from 95:5 to 5:95, from 90:10 to 10:90, from 80:20 to 20:80, from 70:30 to 30:70, or from 60:40 to 40:60. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the cellulose to the cellulose acetate in the composite filaments is from 99.9:0.1 to 50:50, from 90:10 to 50:50, from 80:20 to 50:50, from 70:30 to 50:50, or from 60:40 to 50:50. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibres are coloured. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the colour is effected by a disperse dye. 
     
     
         6 . A bleach activator comprising a fibre blend comprising fibres comprising one or more composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate, and synthetic fibres. 
     
     
         7 . The bleach activator according to  claim 6 , wherein the synthetic fibres are selected from polyester fibres, nylon fibres, acrylic fibres, elastane fibres, cellulose acetate fibres, cellulose triacetate fibres, polylactic acid fibres, polypropylene fibres, or polyphenylene sulfide fibres. 
     
     
         8 . The bleach activator according to  claim 6 , wherein the fibre blend is coloured. 
     
     
         9 . The bleach activator according to  claim 6 , wherein the colour is effected by a disperse dye. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fibres further comprise synthetic fibres. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the synthetic fibres are selected from polyester fibres, nylon fibres, acrylic fibres, elastane fibres, cellulose acetate fibres, cellulose triacetate fibres, polylactic acid fibres, polypropylene fibres, or polyphenylene sulfide fibres. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the fibres are coloured. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the colour is effected by a disperse dye. 
     
     
         14 . A textile manufactured from the bleach activator according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         15 . A process for manufacturing the fibres of  claim 1 , comprising: providing a solution dope comprising a blend of cellulose and cellulose acetate in an ionic liquid or in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide; and spinning the solution dope into a coagulant to generate fibres. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the ionic liquid is selected from butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the ionic liquid is selected from 1,1′,3,3′-tetramethylguanidinine carboxylates, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene carboxylates and 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene carboxylates. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the solution dope further comprises a co-solvent. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein the co-solvent is selected from dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, and dioxane. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the weight ratio of cellulose to cellulose acetate in the solution dope is from 99.9:0.1 to 0.1:99.9, from 99:1 to 1:99, from 95:5 to 5:95, from 90:10 to 10:90, from 80:20 to 20:80, from 70:30 to 30:70, or from 60:40 to 40:60. 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the weight ratio of cellulose to cellulose acetate in the solution dope is from 99.9:0.1 to 50:50, from 90:10 to 50:50, from 80:20 to 50:50, from 70:30 to 50:50, or from 60:40 to 50:50. 
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the solids content of the solution dope is up to about 50% by weight, up to about 45% by weight, up to about 40% by weight, up to about 35% by weight, up to about 30% by weight, up to about 25% by weight, or up to about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the solids content of the solution dope is from about 5% by weight to about 25% by weight, or from about 10% by weight to about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein the coagulant comprises water, methanol and/or ethanol. 
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 15 , further comprising dyeing the fibres with a disperse dye. 
     
     
         26 . An activatable bleaching composition comprising fibres comprising one or more composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate; and a peroxide and/or peroxide precursor. 
     
     
         27 . The activatable bleaching composition according to  claim 26 , wherein the peroxide/peroxide precursor is selected from hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate.