Bleaching agents and activators

Sodium percarbonate with TAED is the standard oxygen bleach system in powder laundry detergents and dishwasher tablets, while hypochlorite is common in household bleach and hard surface cleaners. Industrial users bleach textiles, pulp and food surfaces, and sanitise equipment with peracetic acid.

Ask for active oxygen or available chlorine, stability data, coating for percarbonate granules, particle size, and moisture. Bleaches are oxidisers and lose strength in storage, especially when warm or moist, so shelf life and packaging matter. Sodium perborate is classified as toxic for reproduction in the EU and has largely been replaced by percarbonate. Hypochlorite must never be mixed with acids or ammonia.