TAED, Sodium Percarbonate Activator, White, 100 g

With TAED, sodium percarbonate bleaches already at 30 – 40 °C, without waiting for a hot wash. Percarbonate alone releases hydrogen peroxide in water, which only becomes fully effective at high temperatures. With the activator, peracetic acid forms in the wash solution within the first few minutes, acting faster and at the temperatures of standard wash programmes. Manufacturers of household laundry and cleaning products thus get more from oxygen bleach and do not need to rely on heating the water.

TAED is blended into dry mixes: powder detergents, stain removers, dishwasher tablets and all-purpose cleaning powders. It does not bleach on its own. In a formulation it only makes sense together with percarbonate or another source of hydrogen peroxide.

How it works as an activator

Percarbonate breaks down in water into sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide reacts with TAED and releases peracetic acid. The remainder of the molecule leaves as diacetylethylenediamine, which, like TAED itself, is readily biodegradable. Peracetic acid is a stronger oxidising agent than hydrogen peroxide and its effect is noticeable from approximately 30 °C.

The result is white laundry that greys less, reduced stains from sweat, tea, coffee, fruit or grass, and fewer odours in the washing machine. The reaction takes place in an alkaline environment (approximately pH 9 – 11), which the mixture of percarbonate and soda creates on its own, so no pH adjustment is needed.

Use in formulation

• Ratio to percarbonate – approximately 1 part TAED to 4 – 5 parts sodium percarbonate (by weight). In a finished washing powder this corresponds to roughly 2 – 8 %, depending on how much percarbonate the formulation contains. A higher proportion of activator will not increase the effect; the excess has nothing to react with.
• Solubility – TAED is sparingly soluble in water and dissolves slowly. This is not an issue in the washing machine. For soaking and hand cleaning, first dissolve the mixture in warm water and only then add the textile or crockery.
• Temperature – best results are obtained in the range of 30 – 60 °C. Above 60 °C percarbonate already works sufficiently on its own; below 20 °C the reaction slows down considerably.
• Mix form – TAED is a free-flowing granulate and belongs exclusively in dry powders and tablets. Moisture triggers the reaction already in the packaging, so it is mixed from dry ingredients into a dry, well-sealable container.
• Compatibility – combines without problems with soda, zeolites, salt, powder surfactants and citric acid in tablets. It does not belong in the same mixture as chlorine bleaches.

Suitable for products such as

• Laundry powder for white and light-coloured cotton fabrics – bleaching and stain removal at 30 – 40 °C without chlorine.
• Stain remover and soaking powder – a more concentrated mixture of percarbonate and TAED for pre-washing and soaking yellowed items.
• Dishwasher tablets and powder – tea and coffee stains in mugs, greyed plastics.
• Cleaning powder for the kitchen and bathroom – grout lines, chopping boards, drains and kitchen textiles, where the oxidising effect combined with odour suppression is useful.
• Washing machine cleaner – removing deposits and odour from the drum and seal.

Good to know

Peracetic acid is more aggressive than hydrogen peroxide, so the mixture with TAED is not suitable for wool, silk or leather. Oxidising bleaches damage these materials. For coloured textiles, we recommend a colourfastness test in a hidden area, especially before soaking.

Do not leave aluminium cookware or items with metal parts in the solution for long; the oxidising solution may dull the surface.

The raw material is of technical grade and is intended for laundry and cleaning products that are rinsed off. It is not suitable for cosmetics or leave-on preparations.

Frequently asked questions