Copolymers of acetal carboxylates
AssigneeMonsanto Company
InventorsMarvin M. Crutchfield, Victor D. Papanu, Craig B. Warren
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Abstract
Copolymers of acetal carboxylates are provided which have the following empirical formula ##STR1## where Y is one or more comonomers randomly distributed in the copolymer; the product of n and q averages at least 4; 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 ammonium 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.
Claims33
A copolymer having the following empirical formula:
- ##STR8## where Y is one or more comonomers randomly distributed in the copolymer;
- the product of q and n averages at least 4;
- 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 ammonium groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
A copolymer having the following empirical formula:
- ##STR10## wherein Y is one or more comonomers randomly distributed in the copolymer;
- the product of q and n averages at least 4;
- 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 ammonium groups having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
A method which comprises
- (a) bringing together under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid aldehyde, at least one comonomer, and a polymerization initiator;
- and
- (b) stabilizing the resulting copolymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.