2.

2 SCOURING OF COTTON
FABRIC
 SCOURING PROCESS

 Is TREATMENT OF COTTON WITH ALKALINE SOLUTION

PURPOSE

 REMOVE NATURAL IMPURITIES : FATS AND WAXES,

PECTIC SUBSTANCES, PROTEINS

 REMOVE ADDED IMPURITY : OIL STAINS

 SEED COAT FRAGMENTS (Kittys)

 IMPROVE WATER ABSORBENCY FOR UNIFORM DYEING,

PRINTING AND FINISHING.

What is the meaning and purpose of scouring of cotton?

Which impurities from cotton are removed during scouring and
the mechanism of their removal by sodium hydroxide?
 MECHANISM
FATS AND WAXES
 SAFONIFICATION OF FATS AND WAXES BY ALKALI AND
KEEPING THE DEGRADATION PRODUCTS IN SUSPENDED
FORM WITH THE HELP OF EMULSIFYING AGENTS FOR EASY
REMOVAL DURING WASHING
 IN EXTREME CASES SOLVENTS IN EMULSIFIED FORM ARE
USED FOR SOLUBILIZATION OF FATTY SUBSTANCES

Breakdown of fats and

waxes into low mol wt.
products is known as
saponification. This reaction
is also called hydrolysis but
the term saponification is
more common because soap
is one of the degradation
product

FATS CAN BE EASILY SAPONIFIED BY NaOH INTO SOAP AND GLYCEROL

WHEREAS WAXES ARE DIFFICULT TO SAPONIFY.
PROTEINS

 HYDROLYSISINTO SIMPLE WATER SOLUBLE

AMINO ACIDS

MINERAL MATTER

 REMOVE DURING SCOURING (Acid treatment

given for Neutralization of alkali)
SUMMARY OF REMOVAL OF IMPURITIES
 SCOURING AGENTS
CHOICE DEPENDS ON NATURE OF FIBRE AND
NATURE OF IMPURITIES TO BE REMOVED

ALKALIES
 NaOH, Na2CO3, Na2Sio3, Na3PO4 etc
 HELP IN THE SAPONIFICATION OF OILS, FATS AND WAXES

SURFACTANTS/WETTING AGENTS
 ANIONIC, NONIONIC, SHOULD BE STABLE TO NaOH AT HIGH
TEMPERATURE
 IMPROVE FIBRE WETTING FOR BETTER PENETRATION OF
CHEMICALS
EMULSIFYING AGENTS (NON-IONIC)
KEEP THE DEGRADED IMPURITIES IN SUSPENDED FORM TO PREVENT
THEIR DEPOSITION ON FIBRE AND EASY REMOVAL DURING
SUBSEQUENT WASHING
SOLVENTS
TRICHLORO OR PERCHLORO ETHYLENE
SOMETIMES USED IN EMULSIFIED FORM ALONG WITH ALKALI FOR
REMOVAL OF FATTY OILS, FATS AND WAXES WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO
SAPONIFY BY ALKALI

Which scouring and auxilairy agents are used along with NaOH for
scouring of cotton? Also write the role played by each scouring and
auxilaiary agents.
 AUXILIARY CHEMICALS

SEQUESTERING AGENTS
 ALSO KNOWN AS METAL CHELATING AGENTS

 BIND HEAVY METALS LIKE Cu, Fe, Ca, Mg PRESENT IN WATER

 MINIMIZES FABRIC DEGRADATION

 MOST COMMON AGENT IS EDTA ( ETHYLENE DIAMINE TETRA

ACETIC ACID ).

MANY OTHER TRADE PRODUCTS AVAILABLEE

 SELECT PRODUCT WHICH IS STABLE UNDER TREATMENT CONDITIONS

AUXILIARY CHEMICALS
MILD REDUCING AGENT

 LIKE NAHSO3(sodium hydrogen sulfite) PREVENT

THE FORMATION OF OXYCELLULOSE DURING
ALKALINE BOIL
 SHOULD NOT BE USED DURING SCOURING OF
DESIGNED FABRIC WOVEN BY USING DYED
YARN
 AUXILIARY CHEMICALS

MILD OXIDIZING AGENT (SOD. SALT OF m-NITRO

BENZENE SULPHONIC ACID )
 USED IN CASE OF DESIGNED FABRIC WOVEN BU USING
DYED YARN

 PROTECT THE BLEEDING OF DYE FROM FABRIC DUE TO

REDUCING ACTION OF CHO GROUPS ( ALDEHYDIC) OF
CELLULOSE

 PREVENT STAINING OF WHITE PORTIONS

 MAINTAIN BRIGHTNESS OF COLOUR

AFTER TREATMENTS
 COLD WASH
 HOT WATER WASH
 NEUTRALIZE WITH 2 – 3g/l HCl OR H2SO4

 WASH WITH COLD WATER TO NEUTRAL pH.

TYPICAL RECIPES THE RECIPES ARE ONLY
GUIDELINE
A. BATCH SCOURING PROCEDURE
NaOH 3% owf
EACH
Na2CO3 1% owf MANUFACTURING UNIT
WETTING AGENT 0.2-0.4% HAS TO STANDARDISE
SEQUESTARANT 0.1-0.2% OWN RECIPE
DEPENDING ON THE
TYPE OF COTTON
FABRIC TO BE
PROCESSED
B. CONTINUOUS SCOURING PROCEDURE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE
NaOH 30-40 g/l AND PROCESS
Na2CO3 10 g/l
CONDITIONS
WETTING AGENT 2 g/l
SEQUESTARANT 1 g/l
Suggest typical recipes for
1. SATURATE FABRIC WITH CHEMICALS batch wise and continuous
2. STEAM FABRIC ONE HOUR AT 100 degC scouring of cotton.
IN J-BOX OR STEAMER. How would you test the
3. RINSE THOROUGHLY WITH COLD AND HOT efficiency of scouring.
WATER AT 60 deg.C
 DETERMINATION OF SCOURING EFFICIENCY
Or
QUALITY CONTORL TESTS

WATER ABSORBENCY TEST

1 TIME REQUIRED FOR WATER DROP ABSORPTION

(STANDARD : WITHIN 3-5 SECONDS

2 SINKING TIME : 2.5X2.5 Cm SQUARE PIECE

STANDARD : 5-10 SECONDS

3 CAPILLARY RISE IN A FIXED TIME

HIGHER THE CAPILLARY RISE BETTER WETTING

LOSS IN WEIGHT : 3-5% (EXCESSIVE WT. LOSS INDICATES

FIBRE DEGRADATION
2.2 BLEACHING OF COTTON
FABRIC
 BLEACHING

 IS THE PROCESS OF REMOVAL OF NATURAL COLORING

IMPURITIES FROM COTTON IS KNOW AS BLEACHING

Causes of coloring:-

• CREAM COLOUR OF COTTON AFTER SCOURING

• PRESENCE OF FLAVAONE PIGMENTS ( MORRIN AND GOSSYPETIN )

• CLIMATE AND SOIL CAUSE VARIOUS DEGREE OF YELLOWNESS

• TIPS OF LEAVES COMING IN CONTACT WITH MOIST COTTON BOLL

CAUSE YELLOW SPOTS

• DISCOLORATION DUE TO DIRT/DUST, INSECTS OIL STAINS FROM

HARVESTING MACHINERY.
Why grey cotton fabric acquires creamish color. Which coloring
compounds are present in cotton
 OBJECTIVES OF BLEACHING
PURPOSE

 TO PRODUCE WHITE FABRIC BY DESTROYING COLOURING

MATTER WITH MINIMUM FIBRE DEGRADATION.

 FURTHER IMPROVEMENT OF WHITENESS BY TREATMENT

WITH OPTICAL BRIGHTRENING AGENTS WHEN THE FABRIC
IS TO BE MARKETED AS WHITE

 IMPROVEMENT OF BRIGHNESS OF COLOR AFTER DYEING

What is the purpose of bleaching of cotton

 CLASSIFICATION OF BLEACHING AGENT

1. OXIDIZING BLEACHING AGENT

 CHLORINE SYSTEM

 PEROXIDE SYSTEM

Give the classification of bleaching agents with examples of each

along with features
A. CHLORINE SYSTEM

 BLEACHING POWDER (CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE)-

CaO(Cl)2
 SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE (NaOCl)- 10% cotton bleached

ECONOMICAL, NOT POPULAR PRESENTLY DUE TO

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

 SODIUM CHLORITE(NaClO2 )
EXPENSIVE. MAINLY USED FOR SYNTHETIC FIBRES
B. PEROXIDE SYSTEM

 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: MOST POPULAR FOR COTTON(90-95%)

 PER ACETIC ACID: EXPENSIVE, LIMITED USE FOR NYLON

 SODIUM PERBORATE: SLOW BLEACHING ACTION

 POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE: STRONG BLEACHING ACTION

but FIBRE DEGRADATION.
 Cont…

 OXIDIZING AGENTS COMMONLY USED FOR BLEACHING OF

COTTON ARE:

1. BLEACHING POWDER (CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE)

2. SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE
3. SODIUM CHLORITE
4. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
5. PERACETIC ACID

 MOST COMMON ONE IS HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. IT IS

ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY BECAUSE DECOMPOSES INTO
WATER AND OXYGEN
 EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO BLEACHING POWDER AND
SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE
 2. REDUCTIVE BLEACHING AGENT

SULPHUR DIOXIDE

SODIUM HYDROSULPHITE

SODIUM FORMALDEHYDE SULPHOXYLATE

SODIUM BISULPHITE

 NOT SUITABLE FOR COTTON MAINLY USED FOR BLEACHING OF

WOOL
 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Properties
 Colourless liquid Why H2O2 is most popular
for bleaching of cotton.
 Corrosive to skin, dangerous to eyes
Write important
 Stable under acid pH properties of H2O2

 Stabilized by phosphoric acid

 Activated under alkaline pH
 NaOH, Na2CO3, Trisodium phosphate alone or in
combination may used as alkali for activation
 Decomposition in presence of alkali alone is very rapid

this leads to Uneven bleaching. Therefore, the use of stabilizer

along with alkali essential during bleaching
Effect of Time and Temperature

Stabilized H2O2 does not decompose at high temperature therefore faster

and better bleaching occurs at 95 to 100 ⁰C…ideal for continuous
operations.
Temp↑ - rate of bleaching ↑ …but solution becomes
unstable and degradation of cotton increases.
Below 80 ⁰C the evolution of perhydroxyl ion is very slow so also the
rate of bleaching.
Effect of concentration of liquor
Batch process = 2-4% H2O2
In the continuous process=1-2%
H2O2 Very high concentration may damage the fiber.
Effect of time
The time depends on temp, class of fiber andequipment used for
bleaching.
• temp. of bleaching↑ bath time of bleaching↓
Auxiliaries for Bleaching With H2O2
1. Stabilizers

 To control the decomposition of H2O2.

It provide buffering action to control the pH and to
complex with trace metals which catalyze the degradation
of the fibers.
 Major types are Sodium silicate, organic
compounds and

2.Activator: provide alkalinity

eg:NaOH, Na2CO3, Na3PO4,etc.

3. Sequestering agent: organic stabilizers or separate
phosphate eg: EDTA, Sodium hexa meta phosphate

4. Wetting agent: to provide wetting and detergency

Uses:
H2O2 is the bleach most widely used for cellulosic fibers
[cotton, flax, linen, jute etc.) and well as wool, silk, nylon and
acrylics.

• Unlike hypochlorites, peroxide bleaching does not require a

full scour.

• Residual fats, oils, waxes and pectines do not reduce the

bleaching effectiveness of H2O2….Impurities help in
stablization
 MECHANISM OF H2O2 BLEACHING
• INITIAL UNDERSTANDING
2 H2O2  2H2O + O2
• NOT CORRECT BECAUSE BEACHING NOT ACHIEVED BY
ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN
• PRESENT UNDERSTANDING:
• IN AN ALKALINE SOLUTION THE PERHYDROXYL AND
HYDROXYL RADICALS ARE PRODUCED WHICH ARE ACTIVE
BLEACHING AGENT (REACTION 1 AND 2).
• IN A SECONDARY REACTION (3) MOLECULAR OXYGEN IS
FORMED THAT HAS NO BLEACHING ACTION.
1
IN ORDER TO PREVENT RAPID RATE OF
2 FORMATION OF HO2- RADICALS IT IS
NECESSARY TO ADD STABILIZER AND
3 CONTROL pH
 Mechanism of bleaching action

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IS STABLE IN ACIDIC MEDIUM, THEREFORE, BLEACHING

OCCURS BY THE ADDITION OF ALKALI AT HIGH TEMPERATURE (80-1000 C)

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE LIBERATES PERHYDROXYL ION (HO2) IN AQUEOUS

ALKALINE MEDIUM.

THE PERHYDROXYL IONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECOMPOSITION OF NATURAL

COLOUR IMPURITIES IN COTTON.

THE RATE OF DECOMPOSITION IS OPTIMUM AT pH 10.5-10.8. A MIXTURE OF

NaOH AND Na2CO3 ALONG WITH STABILIZER USED TO GET THE OPTIMUM pH.

AT HIGH pH (HIGH ALKALINITY) THE RATE OF DECOMPOSITION IS RAPID.

Write the mechanism of H2O2 bleaching of cotton along with the necessity to
control the pH during bleaching
AT HIGHER PH (ABOVE 10.8) THE LIBERATION OF HO 2. ION IS SO RAPID THAT IT
BECOMES UNSTABLE WITH THE FORMATION OF OXYGEN WHICH HAS NO
BLEACHING PROPERTY.

IF THE RATE OF DECOMPOSITION IS VERY HIGH, THE UNUTILISED HO 2 . MAY

DAMAGE THE FIBRE.

A SAFE AND OPTIMUM PH FOR COTTON BLEACHING LIES BETWEEN 10.5 TO 10.8
 TYPICAL BLEAHING PROCEDURES
BATCH The process can be carried out on jigger, winch or jet dyeing
PROCESS: machine

Hydrogen peroxide (35 %) 3-5% owf

Wetting agent 0.1-0.5% owf
NaOH 0.3-0.8% owf
Sodium silicate 2-3% owf
Magnesium sulfate 0.5% owf
(Epsom's salt)

TREAT FOR 60-90 MIN

TEMP. 95-100 deg C
DROP BATH
RINSE WITH HOT AND COLD WATER
 Quality Control of Bleached Goods
[1] Water Absorbency: Important for dyeing. Uneven absorbency
can cause difference in dyeing absorbency of an air dried fabric
should not be more than 3 Sec.
Test- Sample to be tested is fixed between two round wooden
frames and placed below a burette filled with distilled water.
The tip of the burette is kept at not more than 2.5 cm above the
fabric. A drop of water is allowed to fall on the fabric and stop
watch is started. The drop is viewed at a low angle and as soon
as the drop vanishes(spreads on fabric surface) the watch is
stopped. The time in seconds is noted the test is repeated at
another portion of the same fabric TEN times and the average is
recorded.
 Whiteness Measurement

Measure percent reflectance of bleached

fabric in 400 to 700 nm.
Compute in CIE whiteness formula
Good peroxide bleached fabric has CIE
whiteness > 75