The manganese substituted heteropolytungstates alpha-[(Mn(H2O))SiW11O39](6-
) (1), alpha-[(Mn(H2O))(2)SiW10O38](8-) (2), alpha-[(Mn(H2O))(3)SiW9O37](10
-) (10-) (3), beta-[(Mn(H2O))(3)SiW9O37](10-) (4), and alpha-[(Mn(H2O))(3)P
W9O37](9-) (5) were applied as catalysts for low-temperature bleaching of s
tained cotton cloth. The bleaching activity of this series of catalysts is
correlated to the fibre-damage induced to cotton cloths during washing as w
ell as to the stability of the catalysts under simulated washing conditions
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