Tetraacetylethylenediamine
Encyclopedia
Tetraacetylethylenediamine, commonly abbreviated TAED, is an organic compound
with the formula
(CH3C(O))2NCH2CH2N(C(O)CH3)2. Used as peroxide bleach activator for household detergents and for paper pulp. It is produced by acetylation
of ethylenediamine.
s and bleach
es. 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 persulfate
, 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 bleaching agent.:)2NCH2CH2N(C(O)CH3)2 + H2O2 → (CH3C(O))2NCH2CH2NH(C(O)CH3) + CH3CO3H
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
with the formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
(CH3C(O))2NCH2CH2N(C(O)CH3)2. Used as peroxide bleach activator for household detergents and for paper pulp. It is produced by acetylation
Acetylation
Acetylation describes a reaction that introduces an acetyl functional group into a chemical compound...
of ethylenediamine.
Use in laundry detergents and mechanism of action
TAED is an important component of detergentDetergent
A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with "cleaning properties in dilute solutions." In common usage, "detergent" refers to alkylbenzenesulfonates, a family of compounds that are similar to soap but are less affected by hard water...
s and bleach
Bleach
Bleach refers to a number of chemicals that remove color, whiten, or disinfect, often via oxidation. Common chemical bleaches include household chlorine bleach , lye, oxygen bleach , and bleaching powder...
es. Its is an activator for "active oxygen" bleaching agents. Such active oxygen bleaching agents release hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is the simplest peroxide and an oxidizer. Hydrogen peroxide is a clear liquid, slightly more viscous than water. In dilute solution, it appears colorless. With its oxidizing properties, hydrogen peroxide is often used as a bleach or cleaning agent...
during the wash cycle. Such agents include sodium perborate
Sodium perborate
Sodium perborate is a white, odorless, water-soluble chemical compound with the chemical composition 3. It crystallizes as the monohydrate, NaBO3·H2O, trihydrate, NaBO3·3H2O and tetrahydrate, NaBO3·4H2O. The monohydrate and tetrahydrate are the commercially important forms...
, sodium percarbonate
Sodium percarbonate
Sodium percarbonate is a chemical, an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide , with formula Na2CO3 · 1.5H2O2. It is a colorless, crystalline, hygroscopic and water-soluble solid...
, sodium perphosphate, sodium persulfate
Sodium persulfate
Sodium persulfate is a chemical compound. It is a strong oxidizer. It is a severe irritant of skin, eyes, and respiratory system. It is almost non-hygroscopic and has particularly good ability to be stored for long time. It is easy and safe to handle...
, 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 bleaching agent.:)2NCH2CH2N(C(O)CH3)2 + H2O2 → (CH3C(O))2NCH2CH2NH(C(O)CH3) + CH3CO3H