Process for molecular weight reduction of ethersuccinylated polysaccharides

A process for reducing the molecular weight of an ethersuccinylated polysaccharide derived from an unmodified polysaccharide comprising native corn starch wherein the process comprises the step of reacting an ethersuccinylated polysaccharide with an acid to achieve a pH of the reaction mixture of from about 2 to about 6;

• and the step of reacting the unmodified polysaccharide with an α, β-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof to produce an ethersuccinylated polysaccharide comprising an ethersuccinate moiety having the formula:
• wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from H, branched or linear C1-C4 alkyl and mixtures thereof;
• R4 is (CH2)y;
• M is independently selected from H, cations and mixtures thereof;
• x is greater than 0 but less than or equal to 1;
• y is 0 or 1;
• under conditions such that at least a partially protonated reduced molecular weight ethersuccinylated polysaccharide is obtained.