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Builder performance in detergent formulations and biodegradability of poly(sodium carboxylate) containing vinyl alcohol groups
Author(s) -
Matsumura Shuichi,
Shigeno Haruo,
Tanaka Toshiyuki
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02641000
Subject(s) - vinyl alcohol , biodegradation , copolymer , alcohol , polymer , polyvinyl alcohol , polymer chemistry , carboxylate , vinyl polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , materials science
Two series of poly[(disodium fumarate) co ‐(vinyl alcohol)] and poly[(disodium maleate)‐ co ‐(vinyl alcohol)], containing vinyl alcohol moieties as biodegradable segments in the polymer chain, were prepared and evaluated for builder performance in detergent formulations as well as for their biodegradability. From the biological oxygen demand test and gel permeation chromatography of the polymer in the biodegradation test media, it was found that biodegradability of the copolymers was dependent on the content of vinyl alcohol moieties in the polymer chain. Significant degradation was observed for fumarate copolymers containing more than 75% vinyl alcohol units and for maleate copolymers containing more than 88≈99% vinyl alcohol units in the copolymer chain. The decisive factor for rapid degradation of the polymer by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐degrading microbes seems to be the chainlength of the successive vinyl alcohol groups in the polymer chain. A definite chainlength is needed to become a substrate for the PVA‐degrading enzyme. For rapid biodegradation to occur, a copolymer containing more than about five to seven successive vinyl alcohol blocks is needed. Builder performance in the detergent formulation is dependent on the content of carboxylate groups in the polymer. Polymers with high carboxylate content showed better detergency, and the fumarate copolymer was more effective than the maleate copolymer. Detergency performance improved greatly with increasing amounts of polymeric builder used in the detergent formulation.