Accelerated Oxidation of Cotton Cellulose in Presence of Reduced Cibanone Orange R

THE rate of oxidation of cellulose by dilute solutions of sodium hypochlorite has been shown to be accelerated if certain vat dyes are also present in the reduced form upon the fibre 1,2 . Ferrous hydroxide precipitated on cellulose exerts a similar influence on the rate of oxidation 3 . The mechanism of this acceleration is not yet clear. It has been suggested 2 that the difference between the oxidation potential of the oxidizing agent and the reduction potential of the vat dye may be the determining factor in the acceleration of the oxidation. The present investigation deals with the measurement of reduction potentials of vat dyes upon the fibre and their influence on the acceleration of the rate of oxidation of the cellulose substrate by dilute sodium hypochlorite solution.