Bath and method for the simultaneous desizing and bleaching of fabrics

Claim 2

A bath for the simultaneous desizing and bleaching of fabrics comprising hydrogen peroxide, a sequestering agent, an amylase, a surfactant, and a buffer consisting essentially of sodium tetraborate decahydrate.

Claim 3

The bath of claim 1, including addition of a stabilizing agent.

Claim 4

The bath of claim 2, wherein the constituents thereof are present, for each liter of the aqueous bath, in the following amounts: ______________________________________ H.sub.2 O.sub.2 (35%) 40-60 ml Sequestering Agent 2-6 g Amylase 8-12 g Surfactant 1-2 ml Stabilizing Agent 20 g, and Sodium tetraborate decahydrate in an amount sufficient to give the bath a pH of about 9.8. ______________________________________

Claim 5

The bath of claim 3, wherein the sequestering agent is ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, the surfactant is a nonionic, and the stabilizing agent is sodium silicate.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5, wherein the bath also includes a stabilizing agent.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6, wherein the bath constituents are present, for each liter of the aqueous bath, in the following amounts: ______________________________________ H.sub.2 O.sub.2 (35%) 40-60 ml Sequestering Agent 2-6 g Amylase 8-12 g Surfactant 1-2 ml Stabilizing Agent 20 g, and Sodium tetraborate decahydrate in an amount sufficient to give the bath a pH of about 9.8. ______________________________________

Claim 10

The method of claim 7, wherein the sequestering agent is ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, the surfactant is nonionic, and the stabilizing agent is sodium silicate.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8, wherein the temperature is 90° to 95° C. and the treatment time is approximately one hour.