We’ve all struggled to get stains out of clothes – but do you understand the science behind this? Most stains are removed by dissolving them with a solvent. But which one do you use? Two factors should help you to decide this:
- The agent that is causing the stain
- The material that has been stained
Different solvents will dissolve different stains, however some solvents not only dissolve the stain, but also dissolve the material that is stained as well – something that you don’t want to happen!
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Stains can be roughly grouped into a few categories:
Enzymatic stains, such as blood, human sweat and grass
stains, are mainly made up of proteins and can therefore be combatted by enzymes
in stain remover formulations, such as proteases, lipases and amylases.
Oxidisable stains, like tea, coffee and red wine, which can
be broken down by bleaching agents, like hydrogen peroxide.
Greasy stains, which can be attacked by lipase enzymes and surfactants.
Compound Chemicals describes these as most commonly being "‘long carbon chain
compounds with a charged water-soluble ‘head’ and an oil-soluble ‘tail’ (which)
remove oil and grease by forming structures called ‘micelles’ around them.”
Particulate stains, such as soil stains, can be removed by ‘builders’
compounds, which remove positive metal
ions from the water and help soften it, in turn removing calcium ions which
often bind stains to fabrics.
So, next time you regret that wine spillage or try to take
that grass stain out of a football shirt, you’ll know what’s going on behind
that brightly coloured stain remover – the science of stains!
For more information visit:-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stain_removal
http://www.prlabs.co.uk/lab-supplies.php?N=ob-protease-solution&Id=62099
http://www.prlabs.co.uk/lab-supplies.php?N=ob-protease-solution&Id=62099
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