Tetraacetylethylenediamine

Tetraacetylethylenediamine, commonly abbreviated TAED, is an organic compound with the formula (CH₃C(O))₂NCH₂CH₂N(C(O)CH₃)₂. This colourless compound is often dyed blue or green for use in laundry detergents, its most significant application. It is produced by acetylation of ethylenediamine.

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Use in laundry detergents and mechanism of action

TAED is an important component of detergents and bleaches. Its is an activator for "active oxygen" bleaching agents. Such active oxygen bleaching agents release hydrogen peroxide during the wash cycle. Such agents include sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, sodium perphosphate, sodium persulphate, and urea peroxide. The released hydrogen peroxide is an inefficient bleach below 40 °C, except in the presence of activators such as TAED.

The activation process entails a reaction of the hydrogen peroxide with TAED to release peracetic acid, which is a fast-acting beaching agent.:^[1]

(CH₃C(O))₂NCH₂CH₂N(C(O)CH₃)₂ + H₂O₂ → (CH₃C(O))₂NCH₂CH₂NH(C(O)CH₃) + CH₃CO₃H

References

1. ^ D. Martin Davies and Michael E. Deary "Kinetics of the hydrolysis and perhydrolysis of tetraacetylethylenediamine, a peroxide bleach activator" J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, 1991, pages 1549 - 1552. DOI: 10.1039/P29910001549.

See also

• US Patent 6528470 - Bleaching activator