Method for the preparation of calcium-binding polycarboxy compounds based on polysaccharides, and replacements for phosphates in detergents, based on these polycarboxy compounds
AssigneeNederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
InventorsArie C. Besemer, Herman Van Bekkum
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Abstract
The invention provides a method for the preparation of a calcium-complexing polycarboxy compound by oxidising inulin in the presence of a low concentration of hypohalite, resulting in the production of a polycarboxyinulin containing about 1.2-2.6 carboxyl groups per monosaccharide unit. The hypohalite is preferably hypobromite, which can be produced in situ by chemical or electrochemical oxidation of a catalytic amount of bromide. The polycarboxyinulin can be used as a phosphate substitute in calcium-binding agents and detergents.
Claims9
Method for the preparation of a calcium-complexing polycarboxy compound based on a polysaccharide, comprising oxidizing inulin in an aqueous reaction medium in the presence of a low concentration of hypohalite as an oxidizing agent, using a total amount of oxidizing agent of less than 1.2 times the amount required for the oxidation of each C3-C4 dihydroxyethylene group of the inulin to two carboxyl groups, to produce a polycarboxyinulin having an average of 1.0-3.0 carboxyl groups per monosaccharide unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.