Bleaching Method and Bleaching Device

Abstract

Provided are a bleaching method capable of bleaching the color of a fiber product without the use of a high-temperature treatment or a chemical, and a bleaching apparatus for use in the bleaching method. The present invention provides a bleaching method comprising the step of irradiating a colored fiber with light comprising a wavelength of 360 to 600 nm in the presence of oxygen.

1 . A bleaching method comprising the step of
 irradiating a colored fiber with light comprising a wavelength of 360 to 600 nm in the presence of oxygen.   
     
     
         2 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 an output power of the light is 0.001 W/cm 2  or more.   
     
     
         3 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the colored fiber has color ascribable to an external deposit.   
     
     
         4 . The bleaching method according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the external deposit is at least one member selected from the group consisting of squalene, cholesterol, wax, triglyceride, diglyceride, monoglyceride, fatty acid, protein, mineral, and microbe.   
     
     
         5 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the colored fiber has color ascribable to sun damage and/or thermal degradation.   
     
     
         6 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the colored fiber is an animal hair fiber or a silk fiber.   
     
     
         7 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the light has a wavelength of 360 to 390 nm.   
     
     
         8 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the light has a wavelength of 390 to 480 nm.   
     
     
         9 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the colored fiber is irradiated with the light in a non-contact state with a solvent.   
     
     
         10 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the colored fiber is irradiated with the light in a contact state with water and/or an alcohol.   
     
     
         11 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the colored fiber is irradiated with the light in a cooled state.   
     
     
         12 . The bleaching method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the step of irradiation with the light employs a light-emitting diode light source and/or a laser light source.   
     
     
         13 . A bleaching apparatus comprising
 a light irradiation unit that irradiates a colored fiber with light comprising a wavelength of 360 to 600 nm in the presence of oxygen.   
     
     
         14 . The bleaching apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising
 a guard that transmits the light through it between the light irradiation unit and the colored fiber.   
     
     
         15 . The bleaching apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the colored fiber is irradiated with the light at an illuminance of 0.001 W/cm 2  or more.   
     
     
         16 . The bleaching apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising
 a cooling unit that cools the colored fiber.   
     
     
         17 . The bleaching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the cooling unit cools the colored fiber to 30° C. or lower.   
     
     
         18 . The bleaching apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 a placement position of the colored fiber is a position facing the light irradiation unit, and   a light-shielding unit is disposed at a position that does not inhibit the light irradiation of the colored fiber from the light irradiation unit.   
     
     
         19 . The bleaching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the cooling unit has a feed water tank and a water spray unit, and   the water spray unit sprays water to the colored fiber.   
     
     
         20 . The bleaching apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the cooling unit is an air-cooled heat sink and/or a water-cooled heat sink,   a hole and/or a groove is disposed in a contact surface of the cooling unit with the colored fiber, and   water vapor and/or water is discharged from the hole and/or the groove.   
     
     
         21 . The bleaching apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising
 a temperature detector that detects a temperature of the colored fiber, wherein   the temperature detector terminates the light irradiation from the light irradiation unit depending on the detected temperature.