Dissolving Ability of Commercialized White Tea on Chocolate-stained Fabric: A Potential Stain Remover
Azilea Ruth T. Santamaria
College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
Reina Juno U. Sumatra
College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
Joshua Cedric B. Taguinod
College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
Jayme James Q. Tambaoan
College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
Derick Erl P. Sumalapao *
Department of Biology, College of Science, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines and Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Tea, being the second most consumed beverage in the world, produces huge amount of waste when the used tea bags are readily discarded. This study determined the change in the relative absorbance of commercialized white tea infusions applied to chocolate-stained polyester and cotton fabrics using spectrophotometry. Results showed significantly higher relative stain removal efficiency of unused white tea infusions on chocolate-stained polyester and cotton fabrics possibly due to the solubilizing property of abundant catechins found in tea.
Keywords: Stain removal, tea infusion, chocolate stain, catechins, spectrophotometry.