Anolyte as an alternative bleach for stained cotton fabrics

Abstract

Anolyte has been successful in the food industry and in disinfecting textiles, extensive research has not been done to determine the bleaching effect on textiles. If it can bleach textiles, it can be considered alternative bleach. If it does not bleach textiles, it can be useful as a disinfectant without the bleaching damage as result of it. 

The aim of this study was to determine if Anolyte could be used as an alternative stain remover. The commonly used sodium hypochlorite and distilled water were used as a control. The study was an experimental research where bleaching of samples was done according to AATCC Test Method 61- 2009 carried out in the Launder-O-Meter. Data for the four types of stains, namely blood, juice, soot and tea were analysed separately. The dependent variable, colour change, was analysed through an analysis of variance (ANOVA) fitting the three design factors bleach (Anolyte, distilled water and hypochlorite), bleach temperature (30°C, 40°C and 60°C) and bleach time (9, 18 and 45 minutes), as well as the two- and three-factor interactions. The results from the study indicated that Anolyte was less effective than sodium hypochlorite as a stain remover for blood, tea, soot/mineral oil and blackcurrant juice. It was noted that the temperature of bleach liquids had an influence on the removal of stains by both bleach liquids.