Abstract: A process for preparing coated particulate alkali metal percarbonate in which coating is carried out by mixing percarbonate with a solid particulate coating and agent and optionally with an aqueous liquid, so that the amount of water present during mixing does not exceed 12% of the total weight of the mixture. Coated alkali metal percarbonate obtainable by this process and its use as active bleach in detergent compositions is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns compound HO—(CH2)5—COOOH or 6 -hydroxypercaproic acid, its preparation process, i.e. from &egr;-caprolactone, aqueous compositions thereof and their use as disinfectant or bleaching agents.

Abstract: A process for preparing coated particulate alkali metal percarbonate in which coating is carried out by mixing percarbonate with a solid particulate coating agent and optionally with an aqueous liquid, so that the amount of water present during mixing does not exceed 12% of the total weight of the mixture. Coated alkali metal percarbonate obtainable by this process and its use as active bleach in detergent compositions.

Abstract: Coated sodium percarbonate particles are provided which contain a sodium percarbonate core, and a coating layer substantially free from sulate, borate and magnesium compounds, having at least 30 and at most 75% w/w of an alkali metal carbonate and at least 25 and at most 70% w/w of an alkali metal silicate. The alkali metal carbonate and silicate being uniformly dispersed in the coating layer. Also provided is a process for the preparation of the coated sodium percarbonate particles and their use in detergent compositions.

Abstract: Sodium percarbonate is traditionally made in a crystallization process from aqueous hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate with recycle of mother liquor in the presence of a substantial concentration of a salting out agent, conventionally sodium chloride. The invention provides a process intended to be conducted without addition of chloride salting-out agent in which the dissolution step is controlled to restrict the sodium carbonate concentration to below 95%, preferably 60 to 90% of its saturated concentration at a temperature preferably controlled to at most 35C. and the mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide:sodium carbonate in the reaction vessel is controlled to between 0.7 to 1.2:1, and preferably about 1:1.

Abstract: Process for the production of an aqueous monoester peroxycarboxylic acid solution by reaction of a peroxygen compound with at least one dicarboxylic acid and with at least one alcohol optionally in the presence of an acid catalyst. Aqueous monoester peroxycarboxylic acid solution obtainable by this process. Use of the aqueous monoester peroxycarboxylic acid solution as disinfectant.

Abstract: A process for stabilising particulate alkali metal percarbonate involves coating it with an aqueous solution, preferably concentrated, of a non-reducing oligomeric saccharide, preferably sucrose and especially together with an inorganic salt co-coating agent. The preferred co-coating agents are alkali metal silicate, sulphate, carbonate and carbonate chloride. Coated percarbonate is provided having an excellent combination of solubility, and stability, even with low amounts of coating agent.

Abstract: Sodium percarbonate exhibits a tendency to decompose in built compositions and particularly detergent compositions built with zeolites. The tendency can be ameliorated by selecting sodium percarbonate which intrinsically has a mean particle size of from 500 to 1000 microns and not more than 20% by weight of below 350 microns and has a moisture pick-up when measured in a test at 80% relative humidity and 32° C. after 24 hours of not greater than 30 g/1000 g sample. A suitable sodium percarbonate can be made most conveniently by crystallisation from a bulk saturated solution of sodium percarbonate in a crystalliser/classifier that does not employ a conventional chloride salting-out agent.

Abstract: Sodium percarbonate is traditionally made in a crystallization process from aqueous hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate with recycle of mother liquor in the presence of a substantial concentration of a salting out agent, conventionally sodium chloride.

Abstract: Storage stable aqueous acidic solutions, often having a pH of up to 1 containing an ester peracid and/or an acid peracid can be obtained by reacting a diester satisfying the general formula R1—O—CO—R2—CO—O—R3 in which R1 and R3 each represents a alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may the same of different and R2 represents an aliphatic alkylene group optionally unsaturated which may be linear or branched containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with aqueous hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an acid, such as sulphuric acid and permitting the compositions to progress towards equilibrium concentrations. By starting with a diester, perhydrolysis generates an ester peracid which is a particularly effective peracid. The process can be controlled to produce solutions containing a high peracid content and within a wide range of ratios of ester peracid to acid peracid.

Abstract: Sodium percarbonate is traditionally made in a crystallization process from aqueous hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate with recycle of mother liquor in the presence of a substantial concentration of a salting-out agent, conventionally sodium chloride. The invention provides a process intended to be conducted without addition of chloride salting-out agent in which the dissolution step (1) is controlled to restrict the sodium carbonate concentration to below 95%; preferably 60 to 90% of its saturated concentration at a temperature preferably controlled to at most 35° C. and the mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide: sodium carbonate in the reaction vessel is controlled to between 0.7 to 1.2:1, and preferably about 1:1.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing percarbonate by coating by means of a coating agent according to which the percarbonate particles are treated with a concentrated aqueous solution containing at least one boron compound selected from meta and ortho boric acids and at least one silicate, following by removal of water to provide coated percarbonate particles. The solution is prepared by adding the boron compound to a solution of the silicate. The coated particles are useful in washing and bleaching compositions.

Abstract: Peroxycarboxylic acids of formula (I) are disclosed wherein the substituents are defined by the disclosure. The peroxycarboxylic acids are useful for washing, bleaching and disinfecting, and methods for using them in such processes are also disclosed. Further, a process for preparing the peroxycarboxylic acids is disclosed.

Abstract: In one class of processes for making poorly soluble organic peroxyacids the corresponding carboxylic acid is reacted with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction medium containing a high concentration of sulphuric acid. The presence of such constituents in the reaction mixture and the manner of the reactants and the way in which they are brought into contact, can result in the processes being hazardous. In the present invention, hazard problems are reduced or eliminated by first dissolving the carboxylic acid in concentrated sulphuric acid, secondly forming a Caro's acid solution containing a complementary amount of sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide within a predetermined range, and then introducing the carboxylic acid solution at a controlled rate in the Caro's acid solution, often over a period of from about 30 to 90 minutes, with agitation and temperature control.

Abstract: The incorporation of many percarboxylic acids in household formulations is precluded from by adverse physicochemical properties, such as a propensity to decompose too quickly during storage or explode on impact or when subjected to pressure, though otherwise they would be effective disinfectants and bleaching agents, especially at hand-hot temperatures.The invention provides a stable and effective selection of organic percarboxylic acids which satisfy one or other of the general formulae (1) or (2):R.sup.a --CO--NH--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --CO--OOH (1)orHOO--CO--R.sup.b --CO--NH--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 X (2)in which in formula (1) the amido substituent is meta or para to the percarboxylic acid group and R.sup.a represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 5 carbons in formula (1) and in formula (2) R.sup.b represents a branched or preferably linear alkylene group containing from 4 to 7 carbon atoms of which at least 4 are linear and X represents hydrogen or a substituent like chloride.