Abstract: A photobleach system is disclosed comprising a synergistic mixture of an electron donor and a visible/ultraviolet radiation absorbing compound (a chromophore acceptor) which is capable of, in an excited electronic state, undergoing electron transfer from said electron donor. A composition comprising said photobleach system and use of the system or composition in bleaching dyes and textiles are also disclosed. A preferred electron donor is sodium sulphite. Preferred chromophore acceptors are water-soluble metallated phthalocyanines and naphtalocyanines.

Abstract: A method of bleaching fabrics comprises contacting the fabrics with a liquor containing a surfactant and a chlorite such as sodium chlorite and irradiating the fabric and/or the liquor with ultra-violet light derived from an artificial source or from daylight. The liquor has a pH ideally above 8.5. A UV-light exposure equivalent to 2 hours daylight gives good results. The liquor may contain a number of other components common in bleaching products. The composition is a particulate detergent composition comprising at least 1% by weight of surfactant, 0.1-40% by weight of chlorite and less than 20% by weight of water, yielding a pH of about 8.5-11 when dispersed in water at a concentration of 0.5-10 g/l. The compositions are stable on storage and the time and degree of bleaching can be controlled by control of the exposure to UV-light.

Abstract: A fabric conditioning composition in solid or liquid form contains a fabric softening agent and a halite material such as sodium chlorite as a bleaching and/or germicidal agent. When in liquid form the composition may contain a stabilizing material to improve physical stability. In use, fabrics are contacted with a liquor containing the composition and the fabric and/or the liquor is irradiated with UV-light from an artificial source or from daylight.

Abstract: Bleach compositions comprising a weakly coloring to non-coloring porphine photo-activator and process for bleaching substrates or liquids using said porphine photo-activator are disclosed. The porphine photo-activator used and as defined herein is selected such that the lowest energy allowed electronic transition of the photo-activator molecule gives rise to an absorption band (Q band) with maximum intensity at a wavelength greater than 700 nm.

Abstract: A composition in solid or liquid form for machine dishwashing is disclosed, containing a builder such as a phosphate salt, an alkaline material such as sodium silicate and a halite such as sodium chlorite. The composition is for use with a machine incoporating an ultraviolet light source to irradiate the dishes and/or the liquor. The composition may also include a low-foaming or non-foaming surfactant and other usual adjuncts, especially enzymes. An exemplified composition is 33% tripolyphosphate, 27% sodium disilicate, 33% chlorite, 7% sodium tetraborate.

Abstract: A photobleaching liquid cleaning composition contains 1% to 79.9% by weight of detersive surfactant, with or without a detergency builder; 0.1 to 40% by weight of a chlorite, and at least about 20% by weight of a liquid base, the composition yielding a pH of at least 6 when dissolved in water at a concentration of about 0.5 g/l.The composition is suitable for the laundering of fabrics as well as for the use in the manual cleaning of dishes or in general purpose cleaning of hard surfaces.