A critical reinvestigation of the TAED-activated peroxide system for low-temperature bleaching of cotton

► The TAED-activated peroxide system conducted effective cotton bleaching at near-neutral pH. ► PAA underwent two types of decomposition under alkaline conditions. ► H2O2 in excess of the stoichiometric amount produced no addition effect on cotton bleaching. ► NaHCO3 was the most desired alkaline agent for use in cotton bleaching.