Electrochemical textile-washing process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising an electrochemical cell, to a process for electrochemical cleaning of fibers, to laundry detergents for electrochemical cleaning of fibers and to the fibers thus cleaned.

1 . A washing machine comprising an electrode and a closed-loop control unit, wherein a current strength in the range from 0.02 to 30 A can be applied to the electrode during the washing operation. 
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1  wherein the electrode is selected from the group consisting of lead electrode, diamond electrode, stainless-steel electrode, platinum electrode and tin oxide electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2  wherein the electrode is a diamond electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to any preceding claim wherein the electrode has an effective surface area in the range from 0.5 to 1000 cm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . A process for cleaning fibers, which comprises generating free OH radicals and/or H 2 O 2  in aqueous solution by applying a current strength in the range from 0.02 to 30 A to an electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 5  wherein the electrode is a diamond electrode having an effective surface area in the range from 0.5 to 1000 cm 2 . 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 5  or  6  wherein at least one compound selected from the group consisting of builder, surfactant and enzyme is used for cleaning as well as the free OH radicals (or descendent products). 
     
     
         8 . The process according to any one of  claims 5  to  7  carried out at a temperature of up to 60° C. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to any one of  claims 5  to  8  having an at least 20% degree of soil removal for bleachable stains. 
     
     
         10 . A laundry detergent comprising bleach activator(s) and/or bleach catalyst(s) and less than 1% by mass of hydrogen peroxide or of hydrogen peroxide releaser compounds. 
     
     
         11 . A laundry detergent, selected from the group consisting of fully built laundry detergent, liquid laundry detergent, color detergent and wool detergent. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using a washing machine according to any of  claims 1  to  4  and a laundry detergent according to  claim 10  or  11 . 
     
     
         13 . A fiber treated by a process or method according to  claim 5  to  9  or  12  or contacted with a laundry detergent according to  claim 10  or  11 . 
     
     
         14 . A kit of parts, comprising a washing machine and an electrolytic cell connectable upstream of the water inlet. 
     
     
         15 . An e-bleach ball comprising a power supply independent of the electricity grid, a diamond anode and a cathode, which are arranged such that the electrodes are able to come into contact with the electrolyte when the e-bleach ball is in the washing drum of a washing machine during the washing operation.