Sodium percarbonate itself is a chemical substance that is used either in its pure form or it is added to its products by manufacturers of detergents. Often sodium percarbonate is found in powders. This article will talk in some detail about such key points as the method of preparation and use, the properties of the substance, etc. And now about all of this in order.
The method of producing sodium percarbonate
First you need to say that sodium percarbonate is an environmentally friendly product. In the process of its decomposition, various toxic or other substances harmful to the environment do not arise. The products of this decomposition include water, soda and oxygen. This fact is another explanation for the widespread use of this particular bleach.
There are three methods for producing this chemical in industry. Each of them is quite seriously different from each other. Below all three methods will be described as detailed as possible.
Method One - Crystallization
The first method, which is widely used in industry, is crystallization. First, a soda solution is taken, which is mixed with hydrogen peroxide. At a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius, these two substances interact. Then crystallization is carried out using stabilizers. Sodium percarbonate is highly soluble, as a result of which it has to be salted out of the resulting mixture. To do this, salt and various additives are added to it. Using a centrifuge, the crystalline percarbonate is separated from the mixture and then dried. It is worth noting that sodium percarbonate obtained in this way is considered a substance of not very good quality due to the presence of salt.
Second way - spraying
When percarbonate is mined by spraying, the use of a centrifuge is not necessary. Instead, the solution is dried, which contains hydrogen peroxide and soda. The process takes place in a spray dryer. The products of this production method also have their minus - low density. In addition, it is necessary to remove a huge amount of water, which leads to high energy costs.
Method Three - Dry
In this method, the dry reaction mixture dominates. The downside of this production method is the lengthy reactions. It is also necessary to add special stabilizers, since the process of purification of sodium percarbonate does not occur.
What are these methods used for? Manufacturers use sodium percarbonate in washing powder. And for a detergent, a high content of active oxygen is necessary in it. Thanks to these three methods, it is possible to obtain percarbonate with a high level of O2. That is why the use of these methods is so popular in production.
Sodium percarbonate: use in detergents and other areas of life
Bleach is necessary in any powder or other detergent. Sodium percarbonate is the main one. It effectively removes even the heaviest stains and whitens laundry. In addition, sodium percarbonate is also used as a disinfectant. It positively affects the color of the fabric in the sense that the color of clothes, even after a huge number of washes, will not lose.
Sodium percarbonate is also used in other domestic conditions. For example, in the food industry, this substance is used to disinfect a work surface. In the chemical, it has an equally important role. Many oxidation reactions occur when using just sodium percarbonate.
Pure use of the substance
Oxygen bleach sodium percarbonate at home is used not only in powders, but also in pure form. You can buy it in various stores for the home.
It is worth not to forget people about safety measures when using it. Percarbonate is a very aggressive chemical. That is why it is forbidden to work with him with his bare hands. It is imperative to use rubber gloves. In addition, this substance must not be allowed to enter the eyes or into the body.
Now I need to talk about how to use this substance in general for domestic needs, if purchased in its pure form.
- Use of the substance during washing in the washing machine. If bleaching is necessary, two tablespoons of percarbonate should be added to the washing machine, but if ordinary washing is carried out, then one is enough.
To wash the dishes in the dishwasher, only one tablespoon of this substance is needed.
If washing is carried out with soaking, then here you need to use the proportion of one tablespoon of the substance per liter of water. It is important to remember that after soaking it is necessary to wash the laundry in the washing machine, but already without the use of sodium percarbonate.
It is important to know one very important point. Sodium percarbonate begins to act when the temperature of the water is more than 50 degrees Celsius. The best effect occurs if the water temperature is 90 degrees Celsius. The advantage of such a bleach is a complete rinse. You can rinse percarbonate underwear even manually. It won’t take much time.
Rules for storing percarbonate at home
The optimum storage temperature for this substance is up to 30 degrees Celsius. The percarbonate box must be stored in a place well protected from sunlight. If the substance is in the warehouse, then this room should have ventilation. Another important point is the lack of combustible substances near. In addition, it is forbidden to store sodium percarbonate in the vicinity with various acids or liquid containers.
User reviews
Bleach is widely used by many people. In many forums, you can find and read reviews about sodium percarbonate. In most cases, they are positive. Many are happy that this bleach helped them get rid of stubborn stains.
Another plus that customers have highlighted is that percarbonate does not spoil the color of clothing. They can wash not only white things, but also colored ones, which makes this substance universal. In addition, percarbonate does not spoil the fabric and does not destroy it even after a huge number of washes. Many users highly recommend this bleach to other people.