Compositions – Fluent dielectric – N-containing
Patent
1994-03-23
1995-11-28
Therkorn, Linda Skaling
Compositions
Fluent dielectric
N-containing
25217423, 25217421, C11D 326, C11D 732
Patent
active
054705100
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the use of polymers of glutamic acid as dispersing agents, especially in cleaning compositions, for example in laundry detergent compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Polyacrylates and acrylate/maleate copolymers are widely used as dispersing agents, specifically as soil-suspending and/or anti-redeposition agents, in detergent compositions and confer important cleaning benefits thereon. However, these polymers and copolymers are not easily biodegradable, thereby posing potential environmental problems. Carboxymethyl cellulose is biodegradable at a degree of substitution (DS) of less than 0.7 but, although it confers some whiteness-maintenance benefit to detergent compositions, it is deficient with regard to soil-suspension properties. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for effective agents that will undergo rapid and substantially complete biodegradation; furthermore, it would be advantageous if such agents were to be derived from natural starting materials. EP-A-454126 discloses detergent formulations comprising from 5% to 50% by weight of polyaminoacid derived from glutamic acid. (Published Oct. 30, 1991) .
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the use of dispersing agent, especially in a cleaning composition, of a polymer of glutamic acid, wherein the polymer of glutamic acid is present at a level of from 0.1% to 4.95% by weight of the composition. In one aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning composition (a) from 0.1% to 4.95% by weight of a polymer of glutamic acid and (b) a detersive surfactant, preferably selected from nonionic, anionic, cationic, ampholytic and zwitterionci detersive surfactants.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
The polymers suitable as component (a) may be derived from L-glumatic acid, D-glumatic acid or mixtures, e.g. racemates, of these L and D isomers. The L isomer and D, L racemate are currently preferred. The polymers suitable as component (a) in the present compositions include not only the homopolymers of glutamic acid but also copolymers, such as block, graft or random copolymers, containing glutamic acid. Thus, copolymers of glutamic acid with at least one other (preferably biodegradable) monomer, oligomer or polymer come into consideration. These include, for example, copolymers containing at least one other amino acid, such as aspartic acid, ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide, (or an oligimer or polymer of any of these) or polyvinyl alcohol.
Glutamic acid may, of course, carry one or more substituents and the polymers useful as component (a) include those in which a proportion or all of the glutamic acid monomers are substituted. Substituents include, for example, alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, aryl and arylalkyl, commonly with up to 18 carbon atoms per group, or polyethylene glycol attached by ester linkages.
The expression "poly (glutamic acid)" and cognate expressions herein are to be constructed as covering any of the aforesaid possibilities unless the context otherwise demands.
A homopolymer of glutamic acid may be prepared in a two-step process, in which (i) glutamic acid is treated with phosgene or an equivalent reagent, e.g. diphosgene, at a temperature of from 15.degree. to 70.degree. to form an N-carboxyanhydride (NCA), and (ii) ring-opening polymerisation of the N-carboxyanhydride is effected with a base to yield poly-(glutamic acid). Suitable bases include alkoxides, e.g. alkali metal alkoxides such as sodium mothoxide, organometallic compounds and primary, secondary or tertiary amines, for example butylamine or triethylamine. Such bases are readily available or easily synthesised by methods known in the art, as are glumatic acid and (di) phosgene.
Although no representation as to the actual reaction mechanism is made herein, the aforesaid synthesis may be illustrated by the following reaction scheme: ##STR1##
It will be noted that the pathways lead, respectively, to an alpha (a) form of a gamma (r) from of the glutamic acid polymer. The present invention includes b
REFERENCES:
patent: 5066425 (1991-11-01), Ofosu-Asante et al.
patent: 5183601 (1993-02-01), Jisai et al.
patent: 5318719 (1994-07-01), Hughes et al.
patent: 5328631 (1994-07-01), Du Vosel et al.
Hall Robin G.
Willey Alan D.
Hailey Patricia L.
Jones M. D.
Rasser J. C.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Therkorn Linda Skaling
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