Laundering aid

Claim 2

A dye transfer inhibiting composition consisting essentially of a. from about 2 to about 75% by weight of a peroxygen compound selected from the group consisting of (1) water-soluble monopersulfates (2) water-soluble monoperphosphates, (3) organic peroxyacids having the general formula ##STR20## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups containing from about 1 to about 16 carbon atoms and arylene groups containing from about 6 to about 8 carbon atoms, and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, methyl, phenyl, ##STR21## (4) water-soluble salts of said peroxyacids, and (5) mixtures of compounds selected from groups (1) through (4); b. from about 0.2 to 40% by weight of an activator compound selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, ketones, and compounds which yield aldehydes or ketones in aqueous solution, said activator producing a Relative Oxidation Constant of 0.25 or greater; c. from about 5 to 40% by weight of a polyvinyl compound selected from the group consisting of vinylpyrrolidone-acylonitrile copolymers, vinylpyrrolidone-maleic anhydride copolymers and poly-4-vinyl-methyl-pyridinium iodide; d. from about 1 to about 85% of a buffering compound capable of maintaining the pH of an aqueous solution of said dye transfer inhibiting composition within the range of from about 7 to about 12; said composition being substantially free of anionic surfactants.

Claim 3

A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peroxygen compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium monopersulfate and potassium monopersulfate.

Claim 4

A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the activator compound is selected from the group consisting of di-2-pyridyl ketone, p-nitroacetophenone, and triacetylbenzene.

Claim 5

A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the buffering compound is capable of maintaining an aqueous solution of the dye transfer inhibiting composition within the range of from about 8 to about 10.

Claim 6

A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the activator compound is selected from the group consisting of di-2-pyridyl ketone, p-nitroacetophenone, and triacetylbenzene and the buffering compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, or mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

A process for inhibiting dye transfer between fabrics during laundering operations involving colored fabrics, said process comprising contacting said fabrics with a laundering solution containing a. a peroxygen compound selected from the group consisting of (1) water-soluble monopersulfates, (2) water-soluble monoperphosphates, (3) organic peroxyacids having the general formula ##STR22## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups containing from about 1 to about 16 carbon atoms and arylene groups containing from about 6 to about 8 carbon atoms, and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, methyl, phenyl, ##STR23## (4) water-soluble salts of said peroxyacids, and (5) mixtures of compounds selected from groups (1) through (4), said peroxygen compound being present in an amount sufficient to provide about 2.5 ppm to about 50 ppm available oxygen; b. from about 0.0005 to 0.06% by weight of an activator compound selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, ketones, and compounds which yield aldehydes or ketones in aqueous solution, said activator producing a Relative Oxidation Constant of 0.25 or greater; c. from about 0.01 to about 0.02% by weight of a polyvinyl compound selected from the group consisting of vinyl-pyrrolidone-acrylonitrile copolymers; vinyl-pyrrolidone-maleic anhydride copolymers and poly-4-vinyl-methyl-pyridinium iodide; d. the pH of said laundering solution being maintained within the range of from about 7 to about 12.

Claim 8

A process for inhibiting dye transfer between fabrics during laundering operations involving colored fabrics, said process comprising contacting said fabrics with a laundering solution containing a. a peroxygen compound selected from the group consisting of (1) water-soluble monopersulfates, (2) water-soluble monoperphosphates, (3) organic peroxyacids having the general formula ##STR22## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene groups containing from about 1 to about 16 carbon atoms and arylene groups containing from about 6 to about 8 carbon atoms, and Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, methyl, phenyl, ##STR23## (4) water-soluble salts of said peroxyacids, and (5) mixtures of compounds selected from groups (1) through (4), said peroxygen compound being present in an amount sufficient to provide about 2.5 ppm to about 50 ppm available oxygen; b. from about 0.0005 to 0.06% by weight of an activator compound selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, ketones, and compounds which yield aldehydes or ketones in aqueous solution, said activator producing a Relative Oxidation Constant of 0.25 or greater; c. from about 0.01 to about 0.02% by weight of a polyvinyl compound selected from the group consisting of vinyl-pyrrolidone-acrylonitrile copolymers; vinyl-pyrrolidone-maleic anhydride copolymers and poly-4-vinyl-methyl-pyridinium iodide; d. the pH of said laundering solution being maintained within the range of from about 7 to about 12.