Copolymers of keto dicarboxylates
AssigneeMonsanto Company
InventorVictor D. Papanu
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Abstract
Copolymers of keto dicarboxylates are provided which have the following general formula ##STR1## WHERE Y is one or more comonomers; n averages at least 2; p is at least 1; and M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium, alkyl groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and alkanol amine groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Such copolymers are useful as detergent builders to replace sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) in detergent formulations. The copolymers are stable under laundry use conditions, but depolymerize in acid media, making the fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams.
Claims32
A copolymer having the following general formula:
- ##STR11## where Y is one or more comonomers selected from the group consisting of olefins and aldehydes having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms;
- n averages at least 2;
- p is at least 1;
- and M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium, alkyl groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and alkanol amine groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
A copolymer having the following general formula ##STR14## wherein Y is one or more comonomers selected from the group consisting of olefins and aldehydes having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms;
- n averages at least 2;
- p is at least 1;
- R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are individually any chemically stable group which stabilize the polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution;
- and M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium, alkyl groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and alkanol amine groups having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
A method which comprises
- (A) bringing together under polymerization conditions a diester of ketomalonic acid, at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of olefins and aldehydes having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, and a polymerization initiator;
- and
- (B) stabilizing the resulting copolymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.