# US 10,865,254 B2 · Use of poly alpha-1,3-glucan ethers as viscosity modifiers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,254 B2 - Document ID: US10865254B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/007,287 - Filed: 2018-06-13 - Published: 2018-10-11 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-16 - Assignees: Dupont Industrial Biosciences USA, LLC - Applicants: Dupont Industrial Biosciences USA, LLC - Inventors: Rahul B. Kasat; Jayme L. Paullin; Andrea M. Perticone; T. Joseph Dennes; Rakesh Nambiar; Michael W. Cobb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865254B2 ## CPC - C08B 37/0009: {alpha-D-Glucans, e.g. polydextrose, alternan, glycogen; (alpha-1,4)(alpha-1,6)-D-Glucans; (alpha-1,3)(alpha-1,4)-D-Glucans, e.g. isolichenan or nigeran; (alpha-1,4)-D-Glucans; (alpha-1,3)-D-Glucans, e.g. pseudonigeran; Derivatives thereof} - A61K 8/73: Polysaccharides - C08L 5/00: Compositions of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08L1/00 or C08L3/00 - C11D 3/225: {etherified, e.g. CMC} - C12P 19/04: Polysaccharides, i.e. compounds containing more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic bonds - D06L 1/00: Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods - D06L 1/12: using aqueous solvents - A61K 2800/48: Thickener, Thickening system - A61Q 11/00: Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses - C08B: POLYSACCHARIDES; DERIVATIVES THEREOF (polysaccharides containing less than six saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic linkages C07H; fermentation or enzyme-using processes C12P19/00; sugar industry C13; production of cellulose D21) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL - C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)} - D06L: DRY-CLEANING, WASHING OR BLEACHING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR MADE-UP FIBROUS GOODS; BLEACHING LEATHER OR FURS - A61Q: SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS ## Abstract A hydrocolloid or aqueous solution comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound is disclosed having a viscosity of at least about 10 centipoise (cPs). The poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound in these compositions has a degree of substitution of about 0.05 to about 3.0. Also disclosed is a method for increasing the viscosity of a hydrocolloid or aqueous composition using a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrocolloid or aqueous solution comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound represented by the structure: wherein (i) n is at least 6, (ii) each R is independently an H or an organic group selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyl alkyl, and (iii) the compound has a degree of substitution up to about 3.0, wherein the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution is in contact with fabric in a washing machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein at least one organic group is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, hydroxypropyl, dihydroxypropyl, and hydroxyethyl. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein the compound contains one type of organic group. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein the compound contains two or more types of organic group. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein the degree of substitution is about 0.2 to about 2.0. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, further comprising at least one surfactant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, further comprising at least one enzyme. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 7, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of protease, cellulase, hemicellulase, peroxidase, xylanase, lipase, phospholipase, esterase, perhydrolase, cutinase, pectinase, pectate lyase, mannanase, keratinase, reductase, oxidase, phenoloxidase, lipoxygenase, ligninase, pullulanase, tannase, pentosanase, malanase, beta-glucanase, arabinosidase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, metalloproteinase, amadoriase, glucoamylase, arabinofuranosidase, phytase, isomerase, transferase, and amylase. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution is comprised in a fabric care composition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 9, wherein the fabric care composition is a laundry detergent or fabric softener. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, which is an aqueous solution. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein at least 90% of the glycosidic linkages of the poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises natural fiber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 13, wherein the natural fiber comprises cellulosic fiber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 14, wherein the cellulosic fiber comprises cotton. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises synthetic fiber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 16, wherein the synthetic fiber comprises polyester. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises semi-synthetic fiber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 18, wherein the semi-synthetic fiber comprises rayon. ### Claim 20 A hydrocolloid or aqueous solution comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound represented by the structure: wherein (i) n is at least 6, (ii) each R is independently an H or an organic group, wherein the organic group is not carboxy alkyl, and (iii) the compound has a degree of substitution up to about 3.0, wherein the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution is in contact with fabric in a washing machine. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, wherein the compound contains one type of organic group. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, wherein the compound contains two or more types of organic group. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, further comprising at least one surfactant. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, further comprising at least one enzyme. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 24, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of protease, cellulase, hemicellulase, peroxidase, xylanase, lipase, phospholipase, esterase, perhydrolase, cutinase, pectinase, pectate lyase, mannanase, keratinase, reductase, oxidase, phenoloxidase, lipoxygenase, ligninase, pullulanase, tannase, pentosanase, malanase, beta-glucanase, arabinosidase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, metalloproteinase, amadoriase, glucoamylase, arabinofuranosidase, phytase, isomerase, transferase, and amylase. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, wherein the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution is comprised in a laundry detergent or fabric softener. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, which is an aqueous solution. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, wherein at least 90% of the glycosidic linkages of the poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, wherein the fabric comprises natural fiber. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 29, wherein the natural fiber comprises cellulosic fiber. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20, wherein the fabric comprises synthetic fiber. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 31, wherein the synthetic fiber comprises polyester.