United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

University of Leeds

Jiming Yao

David Malcolm Lewis

Jamie Anthony Hawkes

Jeanette M Cardamone

Jerry S Knapp

The invention provides a method of treatment of a material, comprising contacting said material with a percarbamic acid and/or diacyl percarbamate. Preferably the percarbamic acid has formula (I), where R represents an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or non-aromatic heterocyclic group, a hydrogen atom, or a group having formula (1a), where each Rindependently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and m=0 to 30. The method provides effective bleaching agents and resterilizing agents and or bacteriocidal agents over a wide range of pH and temperatures, for a wide range of applications. Compositions comprise formula (II), whereby R is H or alkyl and L is a moiety displaced by &#x2014;OOH, and hydrogen peroxide or per hydroxy anion or a precursor therefor 

Use of percarbamic acids and diacyl percarbamates and precursors therefor

Methods of improving shrink-resistance of natural fibers (e.g., wool, wool fibers, animal hair, cotton), synthetic fibers (e.g., acetate, nylon, polyester, viscose rayon), or blends thereof (e.g., wool/cotton blends), or fabrics or yarns composed of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or blends thereof, involving contacting the fibers (or fabric or yarn) with NaOH, HO, gluconic acid, dicyandiamide, and non-ionic surfactant (e.g., Triton X surfactant such as Triton X-100 and preferably Triton X-114), and optionally subsequently contacting the fibers (or fabric or yarn) with protease and non-ionic surfactant and optionally sodium sulfite and optionally triethanolamine and optionally polyacrylamide polymer. The methods do not utilize dichloroisocyanuric acid, chloroamines, peroxymonosulfuric acid, monoperoxyphthalic acid, permanganate, chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite, or aminoplast resins.

Methods of improving shrink-resistance of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or mixtures thereof, or fabric or yarn composed of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or mixtures thereof

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Toronto, Canada

Jiming Yao