Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series – Organic compounds – Carbohydrates or derivatives
Patent
1993-07-20
1995-01-03
Lilling, Herbert J.
Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series
Organic compounds
Carbohydrates or derivatives
435101, 435829, 536123, 604367, C12N 120, C12P 1904, B01F 1756, C08B 3700
Patent
active
053788320
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a microorganism-derived polysaccharide and a method of producing it, further to water absorbents, moisture absorbents or humectants and thickening agents comprising mainly polysaccharide. The present invention is expected to find use in a broad range of applications including water absorbents, moisture absorbents, humectants and thickening agents such as sanitary articles and paper diapers, cosmetics and even covering humectants for the irrigation of seedlings to be used in the greening of deserts.
BACKGROUND ART
With recent changes in life styles, the consumption of sanitary articles and paper diapers is steadily increasing. Most water absorbents, moisture absorbents or humectants and thickening agents used in sanitary articles and paper diapers are based on synthetic high polymer materials. Since currently available sanitary articles and paper diapers are of a disposable type, they are disposed of in flush toilets and discharged into the environment. However, they are essentially not biodegradable and therefore remain in the environment for a prolonged period of time. This is not only unseemly but also deleterious to the environment. Thus, the development of alternatives that are biodegradable and which are hence compatible with the maintenance of a healthy environment is strongly desired.
Similarly, with recent advances in biotechnology, attempts have been made to incorporate biomaterials in cosmetics. However, the use of such "biocosmetics" is very limited and there has been a growing need for the development of new organism-derived moisture absorbents or humectants that can be used as a base for cosmetics.
Desertification is an environmental problem affecting the ecology of the entire earth. Japan is making a contribution to the greening of deserts by supplying Egypt and other such countries with synthetic high polymer water absorbents, moisture absorbents and humectants for use to retain water for irrigating seedlings. If such water absorbents, moisture absorbents or humectants are organism-derived and are biodegradable and compatible with the environment, no harm results from their use in the growing of seedlings.
However, microorganism-derived biopolymers are usually expensive, in comparison with synthetic high polymers, thereby limiting the range of their utilization. In addition, there are many cases wherein synthetic high polymers are formed into various shapes after they have been dissolved or dispersed in organic solvents in commercial production. Accordingly, it is a general consideration that if microorganism-derived biopolymers are treated with an organic solvent, such functions will be impaired. Hence, the range of their application has been generally limited. If such biodegradable biopolymers which are compatible with the environment are treated with an organic solvent without any deterioration in their functions resulting therefrom, application could be envisaged in various fields, including the field of chemical industries and their use will be remarkably advantageous.
Accordingly, in order for biopolymers to be formed in various shapes and to have a wide range of applications, it is essential that their properties should not be caused to deteriorate after they are dissolved or dispersed in organic solvents broadly used in the field of chemical industries. Thus, the biopolymers have come to be used as starting materials for products in various chemical industries.
The object of the present invention therefore is to provide a polymer containing a polysaccharide that overcomes and eliminates the problems associated with synthetic high polymer water absorbents, moisture absorbents or humectants and which, hence, is highly biodegradable and can be used without adversely affecting the environment giving problems such as secondary pollution and which, in addition, has a high water absorption capability, moisture absorption capability, moisture retention capability and thickening capability, having resistance to organic solvents.
With respect to the fermenta
REFERENCES:
patent: 5175279 (1992-12-01), Kurane et al.
Ishino Shuichi
Kurane Ryuichiro
Murata Hideki
Nohata Yasuhiro
Shiomi Michio
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
Kyowa Hokkoh Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Lilling Herbert J.
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