The evaluation of electro-chemically activated water as an alternative detergent for polyamide and machine washable wool

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Date
2010-05
Authors
Van Heerden, Natasha
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The electro-chemical activation of aqueous media is relatively new technology. The alkaline part of the activated media (catholyte) is used in a wide variety of applications due to outstanding detergency properties. The standard phosphate based detergents currently used by consumers cause a negative impact on the environment. Catholyte provides an environmental friendlier alternative as it returns to be neutral water within 48 hours after activation. Although catholyte may be an environmentally friendly medium for washing, the influence that it has on the properties of textile materials, for example wool and polyamide is still only based upon speculation. Little is also known about the soil removal efficiency of this medium on wool and polyamide. The aim of this study was to evaluate electro-chemically activated water (catholyte) as an alternative detergent for machine washable wool and polyamide 6,6. This was done by determining the influence of catholyte on certain important properties of these textile fabrics as well as the soil removal efficiency. The machine washable wool and polyamide 6,6 textile fabrics were laundered at 30°C and 40°C with catholyte, phosphate detergent or distilled water for five, ten, twenty or fifty laundering cycles respectively. The standard test methods for laundering (AATCC 61) and measuring the tearing strength (ASTM D1424), tensile strength (ISO/SANS 13934-1), wrinkle recovery (AATCC 66), bending length (BS 3356), soil removal (AATCC 135) and dimensional change were used. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the statistical interpretation of the results obtained. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water caused a significant decrease in the tearing strength of both the polyamide 6,6 and wool fabrics. The temperature had no significant influence on the tearing strength of polyamide 6,6 fabric although it caused a significant decrease in the tearing strength of wool. The number of laundering cycles caused a significant decrease in the tearing strength of the warp yarns of polyamide 6,6 as well as the weft and warp yarns of wool, however it did not have a significant influence on the weft yarns of polyamide 6,6. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water as well as the temperature and number of laundering cycles did not have a significant influence on the tensile strength on the weft yarns of the polyamide 6,6. It did however cause a significant decrease in tensile strength of the warp yarns of polyamide 6,6 and the weft and warp yarns of wool. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water as well as the temperature and number of laundering cycles had a significant influence on the bending length (stiffness) of polyamide 6,6 and wool, causing the fabric to become stiffer. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water caused a significant increase in the wrinkle recovery in the weft of polyamide 6,6 and decrease in wrinkle recovery in the weft of wool. It did not have a significant influence in the warp of wool and polyamide 6,6. The temperature had no significant influence on the wrinkle recovery of the wool and weft of polyamide, although it caused a significant fluctuation in the warp of polyamide 6,6. The number of laundering cycles caused a significant fluctuation in the wrinkle recovery of the polyamide 6,6 and wool fabrics. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water, as well as the temperature and number of laundering cycles did not have a significant influence on the dimensional stability of polyamide 6,6. It did however cause the wool fabric to shrink significantly. Catholyte and detergent proved to be significantly effective in removing soil from polyamide 6,6 and wool. The temperature only had a significant influence on soil removal from the wool.
Afrikaans: elektrochemiese aktivering van vloeistowwe is ’n relatiewe nuwe tegnologie. Die alkaliese deel van die geaktiveerde vloeistof, bekend as catholyte, word vir ’n verskeidenheid toepassings gebruik, onder andere as wasmiddel weens die goeie skoonmaakvermoë daarvan. Die standaard fosfaat bevattende detergent wat tans gebruik word het ’n negatiewe impak op die omgewing. Catholyte is ’n alternatiewe oplossing omdat die pH daarvan na neutraal terugkeer binne ’n bestek van 48 uur na aktivering. Al word catholyte beskou as ’n omgewingsvriendelike alternatiewe wasmiddel, is die effek wat dit op sekere belangrike eienskappe van tekstielstowwe soos byvoorbeeld wol en poliamiede het, steeds net gebaseer op spekulasie. Baie min is ook bekend oor die skoonmaakvermoë van catholyte op wol en poliamiede. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die invloed van catholyte op sekere belangrike eienskappe van tekstielstowwe te bepaal, om sodoende te evalueer of dit as ’n alternatiewe wasmiddel vir masjienwasbare wol en poliamiede 6,6 gebruik kan word. Die masjienwasbare wol en poliamiede 6,6 tekstielstowwe is gewas by 30°C en 40°C met catholyte, detergent of gedistilleerde water vir vyf, tien, twintig of veertig wassiklusse onderskeidelik. Die standaard toetsmetodes vir was (AATCC 61) en die bepaling van skeursterkte (ASTM D1424), treksterkte (ISO/SANS 13934-1), kreukelherstel (AATCC 66), buiglengte (BS 3356), skoonmaakvermoë (AATCC 135) en krimping is gebruik. Variansie analise (ANOVA) is gebruik vir die statistiese interpretasie van die resultate. Catholyte, detergent en gedistilleerde water het ’n betekenisvolle afname in die skeursterkte van die poliamiede 6,6 en wolstof veroorsaak. Die wastemperatuur het geen beduidende invloed op die skeursterkte van poliamiede 6,6 getoon nie, alhoewel dit ’n betekenisvolle afname in die skeursterkte van wol veroorsaak het. Die hoeveelheid wassiklusse het ’n noemenswaardige afname in die skeursterkte van die skeringdrade van poliamiede 6,6 asook die inslag en skeringdrade van wol veroorsaak. Dit het geen beduidende invloed op die skeursterkte van die inslagdrade van poliamiede 6,6 getoon nie. Catholyte, detergent en gedistilleerde water asook die wastemperatuur en die hoeveelheid siklusse het nie ’n betekenisvolle invloed op die treksterkte van die inslagdrade van poliamiede 6,6 getoon nie. Dit het wel ’n betekenisvolle afname in die treksterkte van die skeringdrade van poliamide 6,6 en die inslag en skeringdrade van wolstof veroorsaak. Catholyte, detergent en gedistilleerde water asook die wastemperatuur en die hoeveelheid siklusse het ’n betekenisvolle invloed op die buiglengte (styfheid) van die poliamiede 6,6 en wolstof getoon. Bogenoemde invloede het veroorsaak dat albei die stowwe stywer geword het. Catholyte, detergent en gedistilleerde water het ’n betekenisvolle toename in die kreukelherstel in die inslagrigting van poliamiede 6,6 en ’n afname in die kreukelherstel in die inslagrigting van wol veroorsaak. Dit het nie ’n beduidende invloed in die skeringrigting van wol en poliamiede 6,6 getoon nie. Die wastemperatuur het nie ’n betekenisvolle invloed op die kreukelherstel van die wolstof en die kreukelherstel in die inslagrigting van poliamiede 6,6 getoon nie. Dit het egter ’n noemenswaardige wisseling in die kreukelherstel van die poliamiede 6,6 en wolstof veroorsaak het. Catholyte, detergent en gedistilleerde water, wastemperatuur en die hoeveelheid siklusse het nie ’n beduidende invloed op die dimensionele stabiliteit van die poliamiede 6,6 stof getoon nie. Dit het egter veroorsaak dat die wolstof noemenswaardig gekrimp het. Die skoonmaakvermoë van catholyte en detergent is betekenisvol ten opsigte van die vuilverwydering vanaf die poliamide 6,6 en wolstof. Die wastemperatuur het slegs ’n betekenisvolle invloed getoon ten opsigte van die vuilverwydering vanaf die wolstof.
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Keywords
Dissertation (M.Sc.Home Ec. (Consumer Science))--University of the Free State, 2010, Detergents, Wool, Polyamides, Activation (Chemistry), Machine washable wool, Electro-chemical activation, Catholyte, Tearing strength, Tensile strength, Bending length, Wrinkle recovery, Dimensional change, Soil removal, Polyamide 6,6
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