Tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) Supplier South Africa

What Is TAED?

Tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) is a bleach activator that reacts with hydrogen peroxide (from sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate in solution) to generate peracetic acid in situ during the wash cycle. Peracetic acid is a substantially more reactive bleach than hydrogen peroxide itself, effective at low temperatures (30–40°C) where hydrogen peroxide alone has insufficient bleaching activity. This makes TAED an essential component of modern compact powder detergents and automatic dishwash tablets.

Function in Detergent Formulations

Modern energy-efficient laundry programmes operate at 30–40°C, where sodium percarbonate alone bleaches slowly. TAED activates bleaching at these low temperatures, achieving effective stain removal from tea, coffee, fruit, and wine stains without requiring a hot wash cycle. The standard inclusion ratio is approximately 3:1 sodium percarbonate to TAED by weight in the final detergent blend. In automatic dishwash tablets TAED is combined with sodium percarbonate to provide the oxidative cleaning power that removes tea and coffee staining from crockery.

Approvisionnement et manutention

Terracore Chemicals supplies granular TAED in 25 kg bags for powder detergent compounders and tablet pressing operations. TAED is a mild oxidising precursor and should be stored away from moisture and incompatible reducing agents; it is not classified as a dangerous goods transport item in granular form. We advise formulators on optimal percarbonate:TAED ratios and co-granulation options for compact and unit-dose detergent formats.