Medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates and their use in chewing gum bases
AssigneeWm. Wrigley Jr. Company
InventorsJingping Liu, David R. Phillips, Richard Gross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) copolymers, and to chewing gum bases and chewing gums comprising the mcl-PHA copolymers. In some instances, the mcl-PHA copolymers may partially or completely replace conventional petroleum-based gum base polymers, including elastomers, in the chewing gum and gum base. The chewing gums and gum bases of the present disclosure may be free or substantially free of petroleum-based ingredients. Chewing gums comprising the mcl-PHA copolymers of the present disclosure may also have enhanced degradability as compared to conventional chewing gums.
Claims28
A chewing gum base, comprising:
- a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising repeat units of at least three different hydroxyalkanoate monomers, wherein:
- each hydroxyalkanoate monomer has a C3-C30 alkyl side chain,
- a first hydroxyalkanoate of the at least three different hydroxyalkanoate monomers is 3-hydroxyoctanoate,
- the polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer is a random copolymer,
- the copolymer has a crystallinity of 25% by weight or less;
- the copolymer comprises 3-hydroxyoctanoate in an amount of about 32 to about 65 mole %;
- and
- at least one non-petroleum-based ingredient comprising one or more of a filler, a mineral, a fat, an emulsifier, or a natural wax;
- wherein the chewing gum base is substantially free of petroleum-based ingredients.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.