Hydrolytic stability of a series of lactam-based cationic bleach activators and their impact on cellulose peroxide bleaching

A series of five cationic bleach activators containing lactam-based leaving groups of varying ring size was synthesized and characterized. The hydrolytic stability of each activator was determined via HPLC-based analysis of hydrolysis products, titration of available oxygen, and whiteness assessment of cellulosic fibers using a peroxide-activator bleaching system following solution storage for various times under controlled conditions. Aqueous alkaline solutions of each activator hydrolysed at different rates with the slowest rates observed with the omega-octalactam ring system, the largest ring size investigated, and the most rapid hydrolysis was found with a six-membered lactam ring based activator. The whiteness of cotton bleached with stored bleach activator solutions inversely correlated with the hydrolysis rate for each activator. The hydrolysis rate followed pseudo first order kinetics.