Alkoxylated polymers for oil and fat removal, their preparation, uses, and compositions comprising them

Abstract

This invention deals with alkoxylated polymers for oil and fat removal, their manufacture, their uses, particularly for use in cleaning compositions such as laundry detergent compositions, and specifically for improved clay removal and / or oily / fatty soil removal and / or body soil removal and / or whiteness maintenance in laundry care.

Description

Alkoxy lated polymers for oil and fat removal, their preparation, uses, and compositions comprising themThis invention deals with alkoxylated polymers for oil and fat removal (in this present invention abbreviated as "inventive compound”, or "inventive polymer”, "alkoxylated polymer”, "TEA or TIPA alkoxylates” or "compound of the invention” whenever the inventive amine containing alkoxylates are meant), their manufacture, their uses, particularly for use in cleaning compositions such as laundry detergent compositions, and specifically for improved oily / fatty soil removal in laundry care.Detergent formulators are continuously faced with the task of developing improved products to remove a broad spectrum of soils and stains from fabrics and hard surfaces. Chemically and physico-chemically, the varieties of soils and stains spectrum range from polar soils, such as proteinaceous, clay, and inorganic soils, to non-polar soils, such as soot, carbon-black, by-products of incomplete hydrocarbon combustion, and organic soils like sebum and body soils. The removal of greasy (i.e., oily / fatty) stains has been a particularly challenging problem. This challenge has been accentuated by the recent high interest and motivation to reduce the level of surfactants in cleaning detergents for environmental, sustainability and cost reasons. A reduction of the amount of surfactants added, especially a reduction of anionic surfactants, such as linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, LAS, has typically been found to lead to an erosion of oily / fatty stain removal. Additionally, the global trend of using washing conditions at lower temperature further diminishes grease cleaning capabilities of typical detergents, since the class of oily and fatty stains shows the greatest performance drop when the temperature is decreased.Another global trend is the compaction of laundry detergents, in order to improve the sustainability in terms of water usage and / or transportation costs, as well as to improve the convenience for the end consumer (e.g., single mono dose products, tabs, pouches and the like), which leads to a high market demand for new raw materials that have a higher weight-efficiency and a significantly broader performance profile.A further strongly emerging trend is the desire to improve the "footprint” of any product, be it in terms of its origin like being from natural or renewable resources, or compared to previous products, its production in terms of production efficiency and thus reduced usage of energy, its efficiency in usage such as reduced amounts for the same performance or higher performance at the same amount levels used, its persistence in the natural environment after its usage, especially its biodegradation, since recycling is technically very challenging and therewith economically not attractive.Hence, due to the climate change, one of the most important targets of the detergent and cleaner (D&C) industry today is to significantly lower the CO2 emission per wash, by improving cold water conditions, improving the cleaning efficiency at low temperatures of 30 °C and below, and to lower the amounts of chemicals employed per wash, and increasing the weight-efficiency of the cleaning technologies. Another important target of the D&C industry is theneed for biodegradable polymers, to improve the sustainability of the detergent formulations and to avoid the potential accumulation of the polymers or their degradation products, resulting from incomplete biodegradation of the polymers in the ecosystem, thus lowering the persistence in nature after usage of the materials.As a result of these trends, there is a strong need for new biodegradable cleaning polymers that provide both excellent primary (i.e., fat removal) and / or secondary (i.e., whiteness maintenance) cleaning benefits for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic stains, and an improved biodegradability. Preferably, the new ingredients would also display a synergy with other cleaning technologies, such as other cleaning polymers, surfactants and / or enzymes, known for improving solely the oily / fatty / sebum or particulate stain removal and / or whiteness of fabrics and hard surfaces, leading to further improved detergent compositions.For example, alkoxylated polyalkylene imine and alkoxylated polyamine polymers, especially the class of alkoxylated hyperbranched polyethylene imine (PEI) and alkoxylated linear polypropylene imine (PPI) homo- and copolymers, are known in the literature to be able to contribute to particulate or to oily / fatty soil removal, especially at low surfactant levels and at cold water conditions (30 °C and below). However, their biodegradation performance generally is poor, and thus not acceptable for current and future requirements. Ideally, the polymers are readily biodegradable, i.e., show equal to or more than 60% oxygen consumption after 28 days in the OECD 301 F test or are they are considered moderately biodegradable then they show equal to or more than 40% after 28 days in the OECD 301 F test. Alternatively, the polymers are inherently biodegradable in the OECD 302 B test, i.e., show equal to or more than 70% dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels. Hence, there is a need to find improved polymer architectures with a similar or superior performance profile, a feasible preparation process and an improved biodegradation behavior.In the following, a summary of the most relevant publications in the field of the present invention, triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) alkoxylates, is given.W02009112379 A describes alkoxylated detergent polymers whose alkoxy chains are built up from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and which have an amine core made from triethanolamine (TEA). The amine cores of these polymers are TEA condensates and have a weight average Mw (g / mol) of 5700 to 14300. Experiments have been conducted that shown that the biodegradability of such polymers is low.EP18190901 A discloses alkoxylated polymers which possess washing performance and are solely propoxylated. The biodegradability of these polymers is not described, but it was found that purely propoxylated polymers are difficult to formulate in liquid cleaning (detergent) compositions.EP3617297 A discloses in Example 1 b a polymer wherein triethanolamine (TEA) has been reacted with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. The polymer has a weight average Mw (g / mol) of less than 2700 g / mol and a contentof ethylene oxide that is 17.8 wt% of the weight of the polymer. It has been experimentally demonstrated in the present application that comparable polymers show insufficient wash performance on fatty stains.Non-published application EP23209783.2, which is solely relevant for novelty, discloses TEA alkoxy lates, their use in detergent formulations and their biodegradability. However, the described polymers differ from the polymers of the present invention by having a content of ethylene oxide that is higher than 22.0 wt% of the weight of the polymer or by having a number average molecular weight (Mn) that is lower than 3200 g / mol. Therefore, it is not expected that these polymers demonstrate efficient wash performance on fatty stains.Surprisingly, the present inventors found that the alkoxylated polymers synthesized according to the present invention demonstrate in parallel excellent wash performance on fatty / oily stains and show a significant biodegradation. Experimentally generated data proved that the inventive compounds can be used in combination with established components to significantly improve wash performance, in particular on fatty stains. Further, the inventive compounds demonstrate significant biodegradation (at least around 60% according to OECD 301 F within 28 days). Further, the inventive compounds also show good stability in cleaning composition, especially in liquid cleaning composition.Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide novel alkoxylated polymers consisting or essentially consisting of(i) one unit of triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) and(ii) branches of alkylene oxide, wherein the branches of alkylene oxide consist of ethylene oxide (EC) and propylene oxide (PC), wherein the content of ethylene oxide ranges from 6 to 22 wt% of the weight of the alkoxylated polymer, and wherein the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the alkoxylated polymer lies in the range of 3200 to 6500 g / mol.In the following, any alkylene oxide is generically referred to as "AO”, ethylene oxide is sometimes referred to as "EO” and propylene oxide as “PO”. "PEO” is used sometimes herein to describe polyethylene oxide homopolymers or PEO-blocks within a larger polymer structure; likewise, "PPO” describes the polypropylene oxide homopolymers or polymer-blocks within a larger polymer structure.A process to produce the inventive compounds is also part of this invention.The use of the compounds of this invention for all kinds of applications for which the previously described polyamines, polyethylene imines, polypropylene imines, and their alkoxylated derivates have been used is encompassed by this present invention as well.Compositions comprising such alkoxylated polymers of this invention are similar to those compositions in which the previously known polyamines, polyethylene imines, polypropylene imines, and their alkoxylated derivates have been employed - either the inventive amine containing alkoxylates instead of such known compounds or in combinations with such known compounds - forms part of this invention as well.The term "compound of the invention”, or "inventive compound”, or "inventive polymer”, as used herein, refers to alkoxylated polymers prepared as described below and / or in the appended claims.Thus, subjects of the present invention are the following Embodiments 1 to 26 as defined and further explained with further embodiments hereinafter and further exemplified in the experimental section:Embodiment 1An alkoxylated polymer consisting or essentially consisting of(I) one unit of triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) and(ii) branches of alkylene oxide, wherein the branches of alkylene oxide consist of ethylene oxide (EC) and propylene oxide (PC), wherein the content of ethylene oxide ranges from 6 to 22 wt% of the weight of the alkoxylated polymer, and wherein the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the alkoxylated polymer lies in the range of 3200 to 6500 g / mol.The compounds of the invention comprise side chains, alkylene oxide branches, which are attached to oxygen atoms derived from the -OH groups of the triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA). The side chains are made up from alkylene oxides, namely ethylene oxides and propylene oxides. Typically, a side chain possesses on average 15 to 40 total AO units (EO units + PO units). More detailed embodiments describing the different chain lengths are provided below.The side chains consist of ethylene oxides and propylene oxides. The side chains preferably end with an -OH group but may alternatively be capped, such as with a C1 to C20 alkyl group, preferably C1 to 06 alkyl group, more preferably 01 alkyl group.It is noted that all such numbers are numbers "on average” meaning that such numbers refer to the average number for such unit for one -OH group calculated based on all -OH groups of an inventive alkoxylated polymer.It is to be emphasized that the reactions leading to the inventive compounds are statistical reactions, meaning there is never just one chemically exactly defined compound present, but an inventive alkoxylated polymer always is a mixture of slightly deviating structures, all stemming from the same reaction within one reaction space; thedifference of those structures clearly stemming from the facts that no reaction proceeds in exactly the same way and the same speed on all functional units, especially as the chemical reactivities of the functional units - here those of the -OH groups, differs according to their environment, meaning that, for example, an alcohol group on a non-modified TEA reacts differently than an alcohol group of a TEA that has already been modified with one or two AO branches; this leads in an overall view to slightly deviating structures being present, and thus any compound of this invention being defined as in the various embodiments including the numbered Embodiments 1 to 26, and exemplified in the examples never is just one chemical compound, but always a mixture of slightly deviating compounds, having a statistical distribution. As the reactivities of those groups are not differing by a large extent, the deviation is relatively small. Hence, defining an alkoxylated polymer of the invention by a prototypical member is a viable way of defining the structure. Also, defining the composition of the side chains by average numbers (including those variables defined in the present and following Embodiments based on the numbers of -OH groups being present in the alkoxylated polymers is a useful way of defining the overall composition of any mixture herein defined as "an alkoxylated polymer of the invention”.Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, the values, ranges and ratios given in the specification for the number of functional groups and the molecular weight (Mn) relate to the number average values in heterogenic mixture of the synthesized alkoxylated polymers containing individual, slightly from each other deviating chemical structures that result from the preparation method of the present invention. As known in polymer science, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is then a measure for the (in)homogeneity within the mixture of different species in "the alkoxylated polymers”.In line with the above, it is preferred that all functional groups, namely the -OH groups, of the triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) have been substituted with alkylene oxide branches and the alkylene oxide branches have slight variations in the amounts of the different al koxy lations. More preferably, the amount of EO units and / or PO units of different alkylene oxide branches within one molecule deviate from the average chain length by not more than 20%, not more than 15%, not more than 10% or not more than 5%, wherein the average chain length represents 100%.Inventive compounds bearing the above-described modification are also called being "alkoxylated”, "ethoxylated and propoxylated” and / or "modified”.The term "alkylene oxide branch”, as used herein, refers to a sub-structure of the inventive compounds comprising, essentially consisting of or consisting of a plurality of AO units, namely EO units and PO units.The terms "essentially having”, "having essentially” or "essentially consisting of”, as used interchangeably herein, with respect to the inventive compounds mean that said polymers may comprise impurities or other types ofpolymers in an amount not more than 10% w / w, not more than 7% w / w, not more than 5% w / w, not more than 3% w / w, not more than 2% w / w, not more than 1 % w / w, not more than 0.5% w / w or not more than 0.1% w / w.In preferred embodiments, the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the amine containing alkoxylates is in the range of 3200 to 6500 g / mol, preferably in the range of 4000 to 6000 g / mol, more preferably in the range of 4200 to 5600 g / mol. In more preferred embodiments, the lower limit of the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the amine containing alkoxylates is at least 3300 g / mol, at least 3400 g / mol, at least 3500 g / mol, at least 3600 g / mol, at least 3700 g / mol, at least 3800 g / mol or at least 3900 g / mol which can combined with the above mentioned upper limits.The person skilled in the art knows how to determine / measure the respective weight average molecular weight (Mw). This can be done, for example, by using size exclusion chromatography (such as GPC, e.g., in combination with light scattering), by mass spectrometry, by mass photometry or by calculation from the used molar ratio of starting materials. Preferably, Mw values are determined by the method as follows: OECD TG 118 (1996), which means in detailOECD (1996), Test No. 118: Determination of the Number-Average Molecular Weight and the Molecular Weight Distribution of Polymers using Gel Permeation Chromatography, OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Section 1 , OECD Publishing, Paris, also available on the internet, for example, under https: / / doi.org / 10.1787 / 9789264069848-en.In preferred embodiments, masses of the alkoxylated polymers, namely the number average molecular weight (Mn) or the weight average molecular weight (Mw), may be determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The samples were prepared as follows: approx. 50 mg sample was dissolved in 20 ml eluent (THF) for 1 hour at a temperature of 25°C. All sample solutions were filtered by a Chromafil Xtra PTFE (0,20 pm filtered prior to injection). Sealed sample vials were placed into the auto sampler. An Agilent 1100 HPLC system, consisting of an isocratic pump, vacuum degasser, auto sampler and a column oven (Bischoff) was used. Furthermore, the Agilent system contains a Differential Refractive Index (DRI) and a variable Ultra Violet (UVW) Detector for detection. Data acquisition and data processing of conventionally SEC data was done by WinGPC Unity 6 of PSS (Polymer Standard Services now part of Agilent) including the processing of the number average molecular weight (Mn) or the weight average molecular weight (Mw). A combination of 2 Agilent PLgel Mixed E-columns (7,5 x 300 mm) of Agilent were put in series at 35°C. THF (stab, with 250 ppm BHT) was used as eluent at a flow rate of 1 mL / min. 100pL of each sample solution was injected. The calibration was obtained by narrow molar mass distributed polystyrene standards (Agilent) having a molar mass range of M= 162 till M = 51.960 g / mol. Molar masses outside this range were extrapolated."Mw” is the weight average molecular weight and "Mn” is number average molecular weight. The respective values of Mw and / or Mn can be determined as described within the experimental section below.The molar mass distribution Mw / Mn obtained by GPC is equal to the polydispersity index (PDI), the PDI being without unit [g / mol I g / mol]).For the alkoxylated polymers described herein, the molecular weight (MW) can also be calculated from the used molar ratio of starting materials. Typically, the molecular weight (MW) of the alkoxylated polymers can be calculated using equation below:MW of the alkoxylated polymer =MW of TEA or TIPA + total MW of EO + total MW of PO + total MW of other monomers (if exist).The % by weight of PO, or % by weight of EO, or % by weight of TEA or TIPA in the alkoxylated polymers can be calculated following the same principle.For the sake of completeness, when the mass of the inventive polymers is based on the calculation from the used molar ratio of starting materials, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is identical to the number average molecular weight (Mn). Therefore, Mw and Mn are identical to their molar mass. To determine the weight average molecular weight (Mw) and the number average molecular weight (Mn) by calculation from the used molar ratio of starting materials is the preferred method to determine the molar mass of the inventive polymers.It is clear for a person skilled in the art that for the alkoxylated polymers of this invention, the measured molecular weight by GPC, mass spectroscopy or mass photometry and calculated molecular weight are consistent in that sense that the results for the measured molecular weight do not vary significantly.Embodiment 2The alkoxylated polymer according to Embodiment 1 , wherein the content of ethylene oxide ranges from 10 to 21.7 wt% and preferably from 12 to 21.5 wt% of the weight of the alkoxylated polymer. In even more preferred embodiments, the content of ethylene oxide ranges from 15 to 21 .4 wt%.Embodiment 3The alkoxylated polymer according to Embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the alkoxylated polymer lies in the range of 4000 to 6000 g / mol and preferably in the range of 4200 to 5600 g / mol.Embodiment 4The alkoxylated polymer according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein each of the alkylene oxide branches comprise or consist of on average i) at least 2 ethylene oxide units (EOs), preferably at least 3 EOs and more preferably at least 4 EOs; andII) at least 10 propylene oxide units (POs), preferably at least 13 POs and more preferably at least 18 POs.In even more preferred embodiments, the alkylene oxide branches consist on average of at least 5 or more EOs and on average of at least 19, 20 or more POs.In preferred embodiments, one alkylene oxide branch has an average weight ranging from 850 to 2100 g / mol, preferably from 1000 to 2000 g / mol and more preferably from 1300 to 1800 g / mol.Embodiment 5The alkoxylated polymer according to anyone of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein each of the alkylene oxide branches comprise or consist of on averageI) not more than 10 EOs, preferably not more than 8 EOs and more preferably not more than 6 EOs; andII) not more than 30 POs, preferably not more than 29 POs and more preferably not more than 28 POs.Embodiment 6The alkoxylated polymer according to anyone of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein each of the alkylene oxide branches comprise a block or random structure of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, preferably a block structure, more preferably an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide block.In more preferred embodiments, the alkylene oxide branches possess a block structure consisting of a PO block and an EO block, wherein the PO block is reacted with the -OH groups of the polyol core. Alternatively, the alkylene oxide branches possess a block structure consisting of an EO block and a PO block, wherein the EO block is reacted with the -OH groups of the polyol core.The skilled person will understand that triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) may also be alkoxylated with other AOs than ethylene oxide or propylene oxide. In this context, butylene oxide is mentioned. Further, the skilled person is also well-aware of helpful modifications of the alkoxy chain, such as modifications with lactones or hydroxy carbon acid as described in WO2021165468 A.It is noted that the alkylene oxide used to prepare the inventive compounds may be derived from a fossil or nonfossil carbon source or even a mixture of the before mentioned. Preferably, the amount of non-fossil carbon atomsin the alkylene oxide branch is at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 70%, at least 95% or it solely comprises non-fossil derived carbon atoms. The skilled person is well-aware of commercial alkylene oxide products made of non-fossil carbon sources (these products are often sold as being sustainable, renewable or bio-based). For example, Croda International, Snaith, UK, sells ethylene oxide and related products based on bio-ethanol as ECO Range. Additionally, methods to prepare bio-based propylene oxide are also known (see Abraham, D. S., "Production of propylene oxide from propylene glycol" Master's Thesis University of Missouri-Columbia (2007) (75 pages)).Alternatively, the alkylene oxide may comprise non-fossil carbon atoms due to a synthesis involving recycling processes. For example, waste plastics can be recycled in a process resulting in ethylene (see Royer, SJ et al., PLoS One. 2018; 13(8): e0200574 and Kim, SW et al., Science of The Total Environment, Volume 903, 10 December 2023, 166789). In a subsequent synthesis step the recycled and non-fossil ethylene can be converted into ethylene oxide (EC). Such conversion steps are well-known to the person skilled in the art (e.g. WO2021092313 A).In further preferred embodiments, the skilled person will also partially or fully replace the other fossil educts, namely triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA), with non-fossil forms of such educts. In preferred embodiments, at least one of the above-described educts comprises at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 70%, at least 95% of non-fossil derived carbon atoms. For example, TEA can be synthesized by reacting three EOs with ammonia, wherein the ethylene oxide compounds can be of non-fossil origin as described above.Embodiment 7The alkoxy lated polymer according to anyone of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the alkoxyl ated polymer consists or essentially consists of one unit of triethanolamine (TEA).For sake of clarity, the term "one unit”, as used herein, means that one molecule of the alkoxy lated polymer of the invention comprises of one triethanolamine (TEA) molecule or one triisopropanolamine (TIPA) molecule.Embodiment 8The alkoxyl ated polymer according to any of Embodiments 1 to 7, wherein said al koxy lated polymer demonstrates at least 60%, preferably at least 65% or more preferably at least 70% biodegradability according to standard OECD 301 F after at least 56 days, preferably after 28 days.For the purposes of this invention, aerobic biodegradation in wastewater according to OECD 301 F is expressed as a percentage of the theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD, which is measured by the elemental analysis of thecompound of interest), which is needed to completely biodegrade the compound sample. Thus, the amount of oxygen taken up by the microbial population during biodegradation of the test substance (corrected for uptake by blank inoculum, run in parallel) is expressed as a percentage of ThOD. The obtained values are preferably measured in triplicate using the OECD 301 F manometric respirometry method. The consumption of oxygen is determined by measuring the change in pressure in the apparatus using an OxiTop® C (Xylem 35 Analytics Germany Sales GmbH & Co KG). Details for the tests performed are given in the experimental section below.Embodiment 9The alkoxylated polymers according to any of Embodiments 1 to 8, wherein all alkylene oxide branches attached to triethanolamine (TEA) molecule or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) have the same structure, in that sense that the number of EC and / or PC units per alkylene oxide branch is identical or, alternatively, the alkylene oxide branch structures vary slightly.Without wishing being bound by the following explanation, a rationale exists to explain the resulting structures of the alkoxylated polymers: Due to the fact that the reactions in question necessarily employed to prepare those structural orders of the side chains, and thus to prepare the specific inventive compounds, are reactions of quite reactive species which can lead under suitable conditions to almost complete and even "essentially complete” conversions of almost 100% if not even 100%, the statistical deviation of the composition of the mixture of "alkoxylated polymers” in question is not that high, which in turn means that the structural order of the side chains do not show much deviation. Thus, it is a reliable assumption which can in principle be proven by sophisticated and thus time-consuming and expensive analytical means - such as multi-dimensional NMR-analyses - that it is generally accepted that such deviation exists; hence, no "specific alkoxylated polymers” will be "just one chemical compound of a clearly defined chemical structure”, but clearly will consist of a) a mixture of slightly differing compounds, such differences lying in b) slight deviations may already be present in the structure of compounds making up "the (unmodified) triethanolamine (TEA) molecule or triisopropanolamine (TIPA)” being employed for the further modification steps, and c) the slight deviations in the structural orders of the side chains may be attached by way of d) multi-step reactions due to e) variations in the chemical reactivities of the -OH groups, and f) due to slight inhomogeneities occurring in a commercial scale process. All of those factors a) to f) - to just mention a few important ones - lead to a "specific alkoxylated polymer” which is not one specific chemical compound but in fact a mixture of slightly differing compounds having an overall very similar chemical structure; thus, such structure is best described by average numbers for the variables and percentages for the amounts of the dominating structural order.Embodiment 10In another embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that up to 100% of the nitrogen atoms present in the alkoxyl ated polymers are quaternized, preferably the degree of quaternization of the nitrogen atoms present in the alkoxylated polymers lies in the range of 10% to 95%, 20% to 90% or 50% to 85%.Embodiment 11A process for preparing the alkoxylated polymer according to anyone of Embodiments 1 to 10, wherein triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) is reacted with (i) at least 6 ethylene oxide molecules and (ii) at least 30 propylene oxide molecules in order to obtain the respective alkoxylated polymer.In preferred embodiments, triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) is reacted with (i) 8 to 35, 10 to 30, 12 to 27, 14 to 25 or 15 to 23 ethylene oxide molecules and (ii) 40 to 100, 45 to 95, 50 to 90, 55 to 85 or 60 to 81 propylene oxide molecules in order to obtain the respective alkoxylated polymer.In preferred embodiments, the alkoxylated polymer consists or essentially consists of one unit of triethanolamine (TEA).All of the terms within Embodiment 11 have already been defined and explained in detail herein before within the description of the Embodiments 1 to 10, such terms, definitions and further specifications of course apply to this Embodiment 11.The conversion rate of the reaction step may be monitored and in preferred embodiments the conversion rate for this step is at least 95%, preferably at least 99%, and even more preferably at least 99,5 % or even more. All other structural orders of the side chains as defined above but also the undefined structures resulting from non- controllable parameters are performed in this defined manner, leading - on statistical average - to a defined structural order directly derived from the way such reaction is performed.The conversion rate of the reaction can be determined according to methods known to the skilled person, such as NMR-spectroscopy, such as 13C-NMR-spectroscopy and / or 1 H-NMR-spectroscopy.For the reaction conditions such as catalysts, temperatures, duration, purification etc. of the reactions to produce the units of the side chains of the inventive polymers, the respective information within the disclosures EP3298120 A, JP2022056680 A and US7468348 B is fully encompassed into this recent disclosure by way of reference.Within this preferred Embodiment, the alkoxy lation is carried out in the presence of at least one catalyst. Within this step reaction of the alkoxyl ation step, the catalyst is preferably a basic catalyst. Examples of suitable catalysts are alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and calciumhydroxide, alkali metal alkoxides, in particular sodium and potassium Ci-C4-alkoxides, such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide and potassium tert-butoxide, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydrides such as sodium hydride and calcium hydride, and alkali metal carbonates such as sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate. Preference is given to the alkali metal hydroxides and the alkali metal alkoxides, a particular preference being given to potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide. Typical use amounts for the base are from 0.05 to 10% by weight of final product, in particular from 0.05 to 2% by weight, based on the total amount of triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) and alkylene oxide.Embodiment 12Process according to Embodiment 11, wherein the alkoxylated polymer is further submitted to the following process steps of a. purification using standard means such as steam distillation, thermal distillation, vacuum evaporation, including removal of all solvent, dialysis and / or b. drying using standard drying means such as spray-, drum, paddle-, vacuum-drying means including agglomeration methods such as fluidized-bed-drying, to obtain a purified solution, a purified liquid, a solid compound or a purified solid compound, respectively.In case that after the reaction leading to the inventive compound residual educts (triethanolamine (TEA), triisopropanolamine (TIPA) and / or alkylene oxide) are present to a non-desirable extent, the resulting product mixture containing the alkoxylated polymer may be further purified by standard means to reduce the content of residual educts, but also to reduce the amount of possible by-products, reduce the amount(s) of the solvent(s) employed (i.e., to concentrate) or replace solvent(s) with other solvents. Such processes are known to a person of skilled in this field.Preferably, undesirable amounts of residual non-reacted educts are removed, preferably by means of distillative processes, more preferably by thermal distillative processes, which may additionally comprise the application of reduced pressure to increase the speed and / or the effectiveness of the removal.In a preferred embodiment only the additional process step a) is employed.Use of and compositions comprising the inventive alkoxylated polymerPart of this invention is also the use of the inventive alkoxylated polymer for various fields of applications, where they can replace currently known similar structures, but bring in their enhanced rate of biodegradation compared to those previously known structures.Embodiment 13Use of at least one alkoxylated polymer according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 10 in cleaning compositions, in fabric and home care products, in cosmetic formulations, as crude oil emulsion breaker, in pigment dispersions for ink jet inks, in formulations for electro plating, in cementitious compositions.A subject matter of the present invention is the use of the above-mentioned alkoxylated polymer in fabric and home care products, in cosmetic formulations, as crude oil emulsion breaker, in pigment dispersions for ink jet inks, in formulations for electro plating, and / or in cementitious compositions, preferably in cleaning compositions and / or in fabric and home care products, in particular cleaning compositions for improved clay removal or oily and fatty stain removal, wherein the cleaning composition is preferably a laundry detergent formulation and / or a manual dish wash detergent formulation, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent formulation and / or a liquid manual dish wash detergent formulation.The alkoxylated polymer can be added to cosmetic formulations, as crude oil emulsion breaker, in pigment dispersions for ink jet inks, formulations for electro plating, in cementitious compositions. However, the inventive compounds can also be added to (used in) washing or cleaning compositions.Another subject-matter of the present invention is, therefore, a cleaning composition, fabric and home care product, industrial and institutional cleaning product, cosmetic formulation, crude oil emulsion breaker, pigment dispersion for ink jet inks, formulation for electro plating, and / or cementitious composition, comprising at least one alkoxylated polymer, as defined above.Preferably, it is a cleaning composition and / or fabric and home care product, comprising at least one alkoxylated polymer, as defined above, preferably for oily and fatty stain removal, or improved clay removal, or sebum and body soil removal, preferably a laundry detergent formulation and / or a manual dish wash detergent formulation, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent formulation and / or a liquid manual dish wash detergent formulation.In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning composition may be used for soil removal of particulate stains and / or oily and fatty stains, and additionally for whiteness maintenance, preferably in laundry care.In another embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention is a hard surface cleaning composition that may be used for cleaning various surfaces such as hard wood, tile, ceramic, plastic, leather, metal, glass.In another embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention is a liquid or solid automatic dish wash detergent composition, preferably a solid automatic dish wash detergent composition, that may be used for cleaningdish ware, e.g., dish ware such as glasses, wherein the inventive alkoxylated polymer is improving the removal of stubborn soils.In another embodiment, the cleaning composition is designed to be used in personal care and pet care compositions such as shampoo compositions, body wash formulations, liquid or solid soaps.In this invention, a preferred area of application for the use of the alkoxylated polymer is the field of fabric and home care products and cleaning compositions, preferably cleaning compositions for industrial and institutional use and the use by consumers in their household.Embodiment 14The use according to Embodiment 13 in cleaning compositions and / or in fabric and home care products, preferably in liquid and solid detergent compositions, such detergent compositions preferably being a) manual and automatic dish wash detergent compositions, comprising at least one alkoxylated polymer, and at least one chelating agent and / or at least one surfactant or - more preferably - a chelating agent in case of a liquid or solid automatic dish wash composition and a surfactant system in case of a liquid manual dish wash detergent composition, respectively; and / or b) laundry detergent compositions comprising at least one alkoxylated polymer, and at least one surfactant or - preferably - a surfactant system.Within such preferred application areas of use, typical tasks have to be fulfilled, all of which are commonly encompassed by the term "cleaning”, but in fact comprise different tasks such as clay removal or removing oily and fatty residues, solid residues, amphiphilic residues and hydrophilic residues. Other tasks are the protection of the goods to be cleaned from deterioration, such as protecting glass from corroding, silverware from oxidation, colors from fading etc. Other tasks are improving the overall appearance of the to be cleaned goods, such as increasing or restoring the color, the whiteness, imparting or increasing a shine. For many such applications additional ingredients are typically added, for cleaning applications important ones are for example enzymes, which help to biologically degrade residues.Embodiment 15The use according to Embodiment 13 or 14 forI. removal of oily / fatty stains, and / orII. soil removal, and / oriii. soil removal of particulate stains, and / or iv. dispersion and / or emulsification of soils, and / or v. modification of treated surface to improve removal upon later re-soiling, and / or vi. whiteness improvement, and / or vii. bleachable stains most preferably in cleaning compositions for i) removal of oily / fatty stains, each of the before mentioned options i) to vii) preferably for use in a laundry detergent formulation and / or a manual dish wash detergent formulation and / or in a formulation suitable for (pre)-treatment of textiles and / or soap bars, more preferably in a liquid laundry detergent formulation and / or a liquid manual dish wash detergent formulation.Embodiment 16The use according to any of Embodiments 13 to 15 in cleaning compositions and / or in fabric and home care products, preferably in cleaning compositions for fabric and home care, the cleaning composition preferably being a laundry detergent formulation or a dish wash detergent formulation, even more preferably being a liquid laundry detergent formulation or a liquid dish wash detergent formulation.Such ingredients are typically formulated with other ingredients in formulations and compositions, which may be also called "products” (as they are provided from a supplier as a formulation to another customer who uses such formulation directly for cleaning purposes etc. or for producing another formulation, which in turn could be sold to consumers as a "product” to be used by the consumer).Embodiment 17A composition that is a fabric and home care product, cleaning composition, industrial and institutional cleaning product, cosmetic or personal care product, oil field-formulation such as crude oil emulsion breaker, pigment dispersion for inks such as ink-jet inks, electro plating product, cementitious composition, lacquer, paint, preferably a laundry detergent, a dish wash composition, a cleaning composition and / or a fabric and home care product, each comprising at least one alkoxylated polymer according to any of the Embodiments 1 to 10.Embodiment 18A composition according to Embodiment 16 being a solid or liquid laundry detergent composition or a solid or liquid manual dish wash detergent composition, preferably a liquid laundry detergent or a liquid manual dish wash detergent composition, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent composition, comprising the least one alkoxylated polymer according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 10; optionally further comprising at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, DNases, mannanases, xylanases, dispersins, oxidoreductases, cutinases, pectate lyases, pectinases, lactases, pectate lyases, mannanases and peroxidases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, preferably at least one enzyme being selected from proteases, optionally containing at least one antimicrobial agent, wherein at least one alkoxylated polymer is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 % to about 20%, preferably from about 0.05% to 15%, more preferably from about 0.1 % to about 10%, and most preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, in relation to the total weight of such composition or product, and such product or composition further comprising from about 1 % to about 70% by weight of at least one surfactant, preferably an anionic surfactant, or even more preferably of a surfactant system comprising at least one anionic surfactant.Embodiment 19A composition according to Embodiment 17 being a solid or liquid automatic dish wash detergent composition, preferably a solid automatic dish wash detergent composition, comprising the at least one alkoxylated polymer according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 10; optionally further comprising at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, DNases, mannanases, xylanases, dispersins, oxidoreductases, cutinases, pectate lyases, pectinases, lactases, pectate lyases, mannanases and peroxidases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, preferably at least one enzyme being selected from proteases and amylases, optionally containing at least one antimicrobial agent, optionally containing at least one compound selected from alkali metal percarbonate, alkali metal perborate and alkali metal persulfate,optionally containing at least one zinc salt, wherein at least one alkoxylated polymer is being present in a total amount ranging from about 0.001% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.005% to 5%, more preferably from about 0.01% to about 3%, and most preferably from about 0.1% to about 2%, and such product or composition further comprising at least one chelating agent being present in a total amount from about 1% to about 70%, preferably from 10% to about 60% and even more preferably from 30% to about 50%, and optionally further comprising at least one surfactant or more preferably a surfactant system in a total amount of from about 1% to about 70% by weight, all weight percent in relation to the total weight of such composition.Preferably, the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol, phenoxyisopropanol, 4,4'-dichloro 2'-hydroxydiphenylether, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol), glutaraldehyde, 2,4- dichlorobenzylalcohol, 1,3,5-tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5-hexahydrotriazine, formic acid and salts thereof, benzoic acid and salts thereof, sorbic acid and salts thereof, lactic acid and salts thereof, isothiazolinones selected from the group consisting of 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT), 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (MIT), 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol- 3-one (OIT), 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (CMIT), and 2-butyl-benzo[d]isothiazol-3-one (BBIT); 3-iodo-2- propynylbutylcarba_|mate (IPBC), benzyl alcohol, pyridine-2-thiol 1 -oxide and salts thereof; 2,2-dibromo-2- cyanoacetamide (DBNPA), N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-dodecyhpropane-1,3-diamine (Diamine), tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulphate(2: 1) (THPS), 2,2-dithiobis[N-methylbenzamide] (DTBMA), 2- bromo-2-(bromomethyl)pentanedinitril (DBDCB); 1-Butoxy-2-propanol, Dibutyl glycol, 1-Propoxy-2-propanol, Dipropylenglycol-methylether, 1 ,2-Pentandiol, Benzyl alcohol, 1-Phenoxy-2-propanol and Propylene glycol.In alternative preferred embodiments, the antimicrobial agent is an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of(b.1 ) carboxamides of the formula (B-1)whereinR4 is hydrogen or C1-C8-alkyl;R5 is C1-C8-alkyl; andR6 is C1-C8-alkyl or C1-C8-hydroxyalkyl;(b.2) carboxylic esters of the formula (B-2)whereinR6 is C1-C8-alkyl or C1-C8-hydroxyalkyl; andR7 is C1-C10-alkyl;(b.3) C3-C8-alkanols;(b.4) C3-C8-alkanediols;(b.5) C1-C8-alkylmonoethers of C2-C8-alkanediols;(b.6) diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, a polyethylene glycol with up to 10 repeat units or a polypropylene glycol with up to 10 repeat units;(b.7) C1-C8-alkylmonoethers of diethylene glycol or dipropylene glycol;(b.8) lactones of formula (B8)wherein R8 is C1-C5-alkyl;(b.9) dioxolanes of the formula (B-9)whereinR9 and R10 are independently C1-C4-alkyl or form together an oxo group; andR11 is C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-hydroxyalkyl;(b.10) mono-, di- or triesters of glycerol with C1-C4-carboxylic acids; and mixtures thereof.The organic moieties mentioned below are collective terms for individual listings of the individual group members. The prefix Cn-Cm indicates in each case the possible number of carbon atoms in the group.The term "alkyl" is used in the proper sense and refers to saturated straight-chain (linear) or branched non-cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals having the indicated number of carbon atoms. C1-C4-Alkyl denotes thus an alkyl radical with 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl and tert-butyl. C1-C5-Alkyl denotes an alkyl radical with 1 to 5 carbon atoms. Examples are, in addition for those mentioned above for C1-C4-alkyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1- ethylpropyl, 1 ,1-dimethylpropyl, 1 ,2-dimethylpropyl and other structural isomers thereof. C1-C6-Alkyl denotes an alkyl radical with 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples are, in addition for those mentioned above for C1-C5-alkyl, n- hexyl, 1 -methyl pentyl, 2-methy I pentyl, 3 methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1 , 1-dimethylbutyl, 1 ,2-dimethylbutyl, 1 ,3- dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dime_|thylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1 -ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1 ,1 ,2 trimethylpropyl, 1 ,2,2-trrmethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl and other structural isomers thereof. C1-C8-Alkyl denotes an alkyl radical with 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Examples are, in addition for those mentioned above for C1-C6-alkyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl and (other) structural isomers thereof. 01-010- Alkyl denotes an alkyl radical with 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Examples are, in addition for those mentioned above for C1-C8-alkyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, 2-propylheptyl and (other) structural isomers thereof.C1-C4-Hydroxyalkyl denotes a linear or branched C1-C4-alkyl radical, as defined above, wherein one hydrogen atom is replaced by an OH group. C1 -C8-Hydroxyalkyl denotes a linear or branched 01 -C8-alkyl radical, as defined above, wherein one hydrogen atom is replaced by an OH group. Examples are hydroxymethyl, 1 -hydroxyethyl, 2- hydroxyethyl, 1-hydroxy-n-propyl, 2-hydroxy-n-propyl, 3-hydroxy-n-propyl, 1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl, 2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl, 1-hydroxy-n-butyl, 2-hydroxy-n-butyl, 3-hydroxy-n-butyl, 4-hydroxy-n-butyl and the like.Oxo is a group =0. If for example in the definition of (B-9) R9 and R10 form together an oxo group, the compound (B-9) is in this case a 1,2-dioxolan-2-one substituted in the 4-position by R11.In terms of the present invention, C1-C4-carboxylic acids are compounds R-C(=0)0H, where R is H or 01-03- alkyl. Examples are formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isobutyric acid.Examples for carboxamides of the formula (B-1) are N-methylacetamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N- ethylacetamide, N,N-diethylacetamide, N-ethyl-N-methylacetamide, N-propylacetamide, N,N-dipropylaceatamide, N-methyl-N-propylacetamide, N-ethyl-N-propylacetamide, N-isopropylacetamide, N,N-diisopropylaceatamide, N-methyl-N-isopropylacetamide, N-ethyl-N-isopropylacetamide, N-n-butylacetamide, N,N-di-n-butylacetamide, N-n- butyl-N-methylacetamide, N-n-butyl-N-ethylacetamide, N-n-butyl-N-propylacetamide, N-n-butyl-N- isopropylacetamide, N-methylpropanamide, N,N-dimethylpropanamide, N-ethylpropanamide, N,N- diethylpropanamide, N-ethyl-N-methylpropanamide, N-propylpropanamide, N,N-dipropylaceatamide, N-methyl-N- propylpropanamide, N-ethyl-N-propylpropanamide, N-isopropylpropanamide, N,N-diisopropylaceatamide, N- methyl-N-isopropylpropanamide, N-ethyl-N-isopropylpropanamide, N-n-butylpropanamide, N.N-di-n- butylpropanamide, N-n-butyl-N-methylpropanamide, N-n-butyl-N-ethylpropanamide, N-n-butyl-N- propylpropanamide, N-n-butyl-N-isopropylpropanamide, N-methyllactamide (CH3CH(OH)C(O)N(H)CH3), N,N- dimethyllactamide, N-ethyllactamide, N,N-diethyllactamide, N-methyl-N-methyllactamide, N-propyllactamide, N,N- dipropylaceatamide, N-methyl-N-propyllactamide, N-ethyl-N-propyllactamide, N-isopropyllactamide, N,N- diisopropylaceatamide, N-methyl-N-isopropyllactamide, N-ethyl-N-isopropyllactamide and the like.Examples for carboxylic acids of the formula (B-2) are methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, n-hexyl acetate, 2-ethylhexyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, propyl propionate, isopropyl propionate, n-butyl propionate, n-hexyl propionate, 2-ethylhexyl propionate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, propyl lactate, isopropyl lactate, n-butyl lactate, n-hexyl lactate, 2-ethylhexyl lactate and the like.C3-C8-Alkanols are compounds R-OH wherein R is a linear or branched C3-C8-alkyl group, as defined above. Examples are n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1- heptanol, 1 -octanol, 2-ethylhexanol and (other) structural isomers of the four last-mentioned 1 -alkanols.C3-C8-Alkanediols are compounds HO-A-OH, where A is linear or branched C3-C8-alkanediy I (or C3-C8-alkylene), where the two OH groups are not geminally bound (i.e. are not bound to the same carbon atom). Examples are propylene glycol (1 ,2-propanediol), 1 ,3-propanediol, 1 ,2-butanediol, 1 ,4-butanediol, 1 ,2-pentanediol, 1 ,5- pentanediol, 1 ,2-hexanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1 ,2-octanediol and the like.C1-C8-Alkylmonoethers of C2-C8-alkanediols are compounds RO-A-OH, where A is 1 ,2-ethylene (-CH2CH2-) or is as defined for the C3-C8-alkanediols above, and R is C1-C8-alkyl. Examples are ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-propyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether (butyl glycol), ethylene glycol mono-sec-butyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisobutyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether, ethylene glycol monopentyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycol monoheptyl ether, ethylene glycol monooctyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol mono-n-propyl ether, propylene glycol monoisopropyl ether, propylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, propylene glycol mono-sec-butyl ether, propylene glycol mono-isobutyl ether, propylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether, propylene glycol monopentyl ether, propylene glycol monohexyl ether, propylene glycol monoheptyl ether, propylene glycol monooctyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol monomethyl ether, 1 ,3- propanediol monoethyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol mono-n-propyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol monoisopropyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol mono-n-butyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol mono-sec-butyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol mono-isobutyl ether, 1 ,3- propanediol mono-tert-butyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol monopentyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol monohexyl ether, 1 ,3- propanediol monoheptyl ether, 1 ,3-propanediol monooctyl ether and the like.Polyethylene glycols with up to 10 repeat units are oligomers or polymers of the formula HO-A-[O-A]n-OH, where A is a 1 ,2-ethylene group (-CH2-CH2-), and n is from 2 to 9.Polypropylene glycols with up to 10 repeat units are oligomers or polymers of the formula HO-A-[O-A]n-OH, where A is a 1 ,2-propylene group (-CH(CH3)-CH2- or -CH2-CH(CH3)-, and n is from 2 to 9.C1-C8-Alkylmonoethers of diethylene glycol are compounds RO-CH2CH2-O-CH2CH2-OH, where R is C1-C8- alkyl. Examples are diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol mono- n-propyl ether, diethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether (also termed butyldiglycol), diethylene glycol mono-sec-butyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-isobutyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether, diethylene glycol monopentyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, diethylene glycol monoheptyl ether, diethylene glycol monooctyl ether and structural isomers thereof.C1-C8-Alkylmonoethers of dipropylene glycol are compounds RO-CH(Ra)CH(Rb)-O- CH(Rc)CH(Rd)-OH, where R is C1-C8-alkyl, one of Ra and Rb is H and the other is methyl, and one of Rc and Rd is H and the other is methyl. Examples are dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono- n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoisopropyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-sec-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-isobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol monopentyl ether, dipropylene glycol monohexyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoheptyl ether, dipropylene glycol monooctyl ether and structural isomers thereof.Examples for lactones of formula (B-8) are D-valerolacton (R8 = methyl; also known as D-pentalactone), D- caprolactone (R8 = ethyl; also known as D-hexalactone), D-heptalactone (R8 = n-propyl), D-octalactone (R8 = n-butyl) and D-nonalactone (R8 = n-pentyl).Examples of dioxolanes of the formula (B-9) are propylenecarbonate (4-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one; R9 and R10 form together an oxo group =0, R11 = methyl), 4-ethyl-1 ,3-dioxolan-2-one (R9 and RIO form together an oxo group =0, R11 = ethyl), isopropylidenglycerol (R9, R10 = methyl, R11 = hydroxymethyl) and the like.Examples of mono- di- or triesters of glycerol with C1-C4-carboxylic acids are glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate and glycerol triacetate.Embodiment 20A composition according to Embodiment 19, being a solid automatic dish wash detergent composition, comprising at least one alkoxylated polymer according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 10 and additionally comprising at least one chelating agent selected from methylglycinediaceticacid (MGDA), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA), citric acid, iminodisuccinic acid, iminodiacetic acid and salts thereof, at least one enzyme selected from proteases and / or amylases, at least one bleaching agent selected from alkali metal percarbonate, alkali metal perborate and alkali metal persulfate, preferably alkali metal percarbonate, at least one non-ionic surfactant, optionally at least one disintegrant, preferably a super-disintegrant, more preferably PVPP, and optionally containing at least one zinc salt.Super-disintegrants are known by a person of skill in the art, e.g. from EP1004661, EP1263814 and EP1036839, and are discussed also in Pharmaceutical Technology, Volume 2006 Supplement, Issue 5, "A Comparative Study of Current Superdisintegrants”, October 1, 2006.Embodiment 21Composition according to any of Embodiments 17 and 18 being a detergent composition, comprising as surfactant at least one anionic surfactant.Embodiment 22Composition according to any of Embodiments 17 and 18 being a liquid detergent composition, comprising as surfactant at least one non-ionic surfactant, and further comprising water.Embodiment 23Composition according to any one of Embodiments 17 to 22 further comprising an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol and 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylether; preferably comprising 2- phenoxyethanol in an amount ranging from 2ppm to 5% by weight of the composition; more preferably comprising0.1 to 2% of phenoxyethanol or preferably comprising 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylether in a concentration from 0.001 to 3%, more preferably 0.002 to 1 %, even more preferably 0.01 to 0.6%, each by weight of the composition.Embodiment 24Composition according to any one of Embodiments 17 to 23 further comprising at least one enzyme selected from the list consisting of lipases, hydrolases, amylases, DNases, proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, mannanases, xylanases, dispersins, oxidoreductases, cutinases, pectate lyases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, more preferably at least one enzyme being selected from proteases.Embodiment 25Method of preserving an aqueous composition according to any one of Embodiments 17 to 24 against microbial contamination or growth, which method comprises addition of an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol and 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylether.Embodiment 26A cleaning method comprising contacting a cleaning composition according to Embodiments 17 to 25 with an object that requires cleaning, preferably a laundry or a hard surface household item.The term "cleaning”, as used herein, refers to performing or aiding in any soil removal, bleaching, microbial population reduction, or combination thereof. This includes to rinse a fabric with water or to wash the fabric with the inventive liquid cleaning composition by means of a washing machine, automatic dish washer or by hand. It is preferred that the cleaning is carried out at a temperature of 60 °C or less, more preferably at a temperature of 40 °C or less, most preferably at a temperature of 30 °C or less. In other preferred embodiments, the cleaning method is performed under water conserving conditions. This means that not more than 60%, not more than 70%, not more than 80%, not more than 90% or not more than 95% of the water generally recommended for a given cleaning procedure is used for the cleaning method of the present invention.Further descriptionIt is also preferred in the present invention that the cleaning composition comprises (besides at least one alkoxylated polymer as described above) additionally at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, DNases,mannanases, xylanases, dispersins, oxidoreductases, cutinases, pectate lyases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, more preferably at least one enzyme being selected from proteases.Preferably, the such inventive cleaning composition is a fabric and home care product or an industrial and institutional (l&l) cleaning product, preferably a fabric and home care product, more preferably a laundry detergent or manual dish washing detergent, comprising at least one inventive alkoxylated polymer, and optionally further comprising at least one surfactant or a surfactant system, providing improved removal, dispersion and / or emulsification of soils and I or modification of treated surfaces and I or whiteness maintenance of treated surfaces.At least one inventive alkoxylated polymer as described herein (such alkoxylated polymer as defined before and especially in the Embodiments 1 to 11 are in this following section also termed "inventive compound”) is present in said inventive cleaning compositions at a concentration from about 0.01 % to about 20%, preferably from about 0.05% to 15%, more preferably from about 0.1 % to about 10%, and most preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, in relation to the total weight of such composition or product; such cleaning composition may - and preferably does - further comprise from about 1 % to about 70% by weight of a surfactant system.Even more preferably, the cleaning compositions of the present invention comprising at least one inventive compound, and optionally further comprising at least one surfactant or a surfactant system, are those for primary cleaning (i.e., removal of stains) within laundry and manual dish wash applications, even more specifically, for removal of clay or oily and fatty stains such as those on fabrics and dishware, and may additionally comprise at least one enzyme selected from the list consisting of lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, DNases, mannanases, xylanases, dispersins, oxidoreductases, cutinases, pectate lyases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types of enzymes, more preferably at least one enzyme being selected from proteases.In one preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention is a liquid or solid laundry detergent composition.In another preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention is a liquid or solid (e.g., powder or tab / unit dose) detergent composition for manual or automatic dish wash, preferably either a liquid manual dish wash detergent composition or a solid automatic dish wash composition.In one embodiment, the inventive compounds of the present invention may be utilized in cleaning compositions comprising a surfactant system comprising C10-C15 alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS) as the primary surfactant andone or more additional surfactants selected from non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic or other anionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof.In a further embodiment, the inventive compounds may be utilized in cleaning compositions, such as laundry detergents of any kind, and the like, comprising Cs-C linear or branched alkyl ether sulfates with 1-5 ethoxy-units as the primary surfactant and one or more additional surfactants selected from non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic or other anionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof.In a further embodiment the inventive compounds may be utilized in cleaning compositions, such as laundry detergents of any kind, and the like, comprising C12-C18 alkyl ethoxylate surfactants with 5-10 ethoxy-units as the primary surfactant and one or more additional surfactants selected from anionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic or other non-ionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof.In a further embodiment the inventive compounds may be utilized in cleaning compositions, such as laundry detergents of any kind, and the like, comprising bio-based surfactants like rhamnolipids and / or sophorolipids as the primary surfactant.In one embodiment of the present invention, the inventive compound is a component of a cleaning composition, such as preferably a laundry or a dish wash formulation, more preferably a liquid laundry or manual dish wash formulation, that each additionally comprise at least one surfactant, preferably at least one anionic surfactant.The selection of the additional surfactants in these embodiments may be dependent upon the application and the desired benefit.As used herein, the articles "a” and "an” when used in a claim or an embodiment, are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described. As used herein, the terms "include(s)” and "including” are meant to be nonlimiting, and thus encompass more than the specific item mentioned after those words.The compositions of the present disclosure can "comprise” (i.e., contain other ingredients), "consist essentially of” (comprise mainly or almost only the mentioned ingredients and other ingredients in only very minor amounts, mainly only as impurities), or "consist of' (i.e., contain only the mentioned ingredients and in addition may contain only impurities not avoidable in a technical environment, preferably only the ingredients) the components of the present disclosure.Similarly, the terms "substantially free of ...” or "substantially free from ...” or “(containing / comprising) essentially no ...” may be used herein; this means that the indicated material is at the very minimum not deliberately added to the composition to form part of it, or, preferably, is not present at analytically detectable levels. It is meant to includecompositions whereby the indicated material is present only as an impurity in one of the other materials deliberately included. The indicated material may be present, if at all, at a level of less than 1 %, or even less than 0.1%, or even more less than 0.01 %, or even 0%, by weight of the composition.The term "about”, as used herein, encompasses the exact number "X” mentioned as e.g., "about X%” etc., and small variations of X, including from minus 5 to plus 5 % deviation from X (with X for this calculation set to 100%), preferably from minus 2 to plus 2 %, more preferably from minus 1 to plus 1 %, even more preferably from minus 0,5 to plus 0,5 % and smaller variations. Of course, if the value X given itself is already "100%” (such as for purity etc.) then the term "about” clearly can and thus does only mean deviations thereof which are smaller than "100”.Unless otherwise noted, all component or composition levels are in reference to the active portion of that component or composition, and are exclusive of impurities, for example, residual solvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially available sources of such components or compositions.All temperatures herein are in degrees Celsius (°C) unless otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise specified, all measurements herein are conducted at 20°C and under atmospheric pressure. In all embodiments of the present disclosure, all percentages are by weight of the total composition, unless specifically stated otherwise. All ratios are weight ratios, unless specifically stated otherwise.Description of cleaning compositions, formulations and their ingredientsThe publication IPCCM000274489D published on www.IP.com is regarded as Reference RF1 , which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The publication Prior Art Disclosure; Issue 684; paragraphs

[3000] to

[3061] ; ISSN: 2198-4786; published: February 12, 2024 will be regarded as Reference RF2, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.The phrase "cleaning composition", as used herein, includes compositions and formulations designed for cleaning soiled material. Such compositions and formulations include those designed for cleaning soiled material or surfaces of any kind, more preferably compositions for Fabric and Home Care. "Cleaning compositions” are defined in more detail in paragraphs

[0001] ,

[0002] ,

[0004] and

[0007] of Reference RF1."Compositions for Fabric and Home Care” include cleaning compositions and formulations including but not limited to laundry cleaning compositions and detergents and hard surface cleaning compositions including dish washing compositions, more preferably liquid laundry formulations, solid laundry compositions, liquid manual dish wash formulations, automatic dish wash (ADW) gels and automatic dish wash (ADW) solid compositions. "Compositions for Fabric and Home Care” are defined in more detail in paragraph

[0003] of Reference RF1.The cleaning compositions of the invention including the inventive polymer(s) may - and preferably do - contain adjunct cleaning additives (also abbreviated herein as "adjuncts”), such adjuncts being preferably in addition to a surfactant system as defined before.Suitable adjunct cleaning additives include further polymers, surfactants or surfactant systems, builders, cobuilders, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing systems, structurants or thickeners, clay soil removal / anti-redeposition agents, solubilizing agents, chelating agents, bleaching compounds, bleaching agents, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, brighteners, malodor control agents, pigments, dyes, opacifiers, hueing agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, chelating agents, suds boosters, suds suppressors (antifoams), color speckles, silver care, anti-tarnish and / or anti-corrosion agents, alkalinity sources, pH adjusters, pH-buffer agents, hydrotropes, scrubbing particles, antibacterial agents, anti-oxidants, softeners, carriers, processing aids, pro-perfumes, dye fixation agent and perfumes.In preferred embodiments, the cleaning compositions comprise the inventive polymer(s) and an additional polymer, preferably cleaning polymers and / or soil release polymers. "Cleaning polymers and soil release polymers” are defined in more detail in paragraphs

[0032] to

[0034] of Reference RF1. These polymers include polycarboxylates, alkoxylated polyalkylenamines, alkoxylated polyalkylenimines, polyether-based polymers, rheology-modifying polymers, dye inhibition polymers and soil release polymers as defined in more detail in paragraphs

[3035] to

[3044] of Reference RF2.The additional polymers may include, without limitation, "multifunctional alkoxylated polyethylene imines” (for example BASF's Sokalan® HP20), "multifunctional alkoxylated diamines” (for example BASF's Sokalan® HP96), BASF's Sokalan® SR400 A and also terephthalic acid-based polyesters like Clariant's TexCare®, such as TexCare® SRN 170, TexCare® SRN 172, TexCare® SRN 260, TexCare® SRN 260 SG Terra and TexCare® SRA 300 as well as distinct combinations of all of the before mentioned polymers. Also included are graft polymers comprising a polyalkylene oxide based backbone with grafted side chains of vinyl ester monomer and optionally N- vinylpyrrolidone monomers.In preferred embodiments, the cleaning compositions comprise the inventive polymer(s) and a surfactant or surfactant system. "Surfactants” are anionic, non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric and zwitter-ionic surfactants defined in more detail in paragraphs

[3008] to

[3034] of Reference RF2. In addition, these surfactants are also described in more detail in paragraphs

[0008] to

[0013] of Reference RF1.Anionic surfactants for inventive cleaning compositions include linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS), alkyl sulfates (AS), alkyl alkoxy sulfates (AES), alkyl alkoxy carboxylates, modified alkylbenzene sulfonate (MLAS), methyl ester sulfonate (MES), alkyl sulfosuccinates, alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS), alkyl polyglycosides (APG) and biosurfactants, such as rhamnolipids and sophorolipids. Non-ionic surfactants for inventive cleaning compositionsinclude alkoxylates (such as PLURONIC® from BASF), alkoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated fatty acids and alkoxylated (poly-)saccharides. Cationic surfactants for inventive cleaning compositions include surfactants comprising a quaternary ammonium. Amphoteric surfactants for inventive cleaning compositions include amine oxides. Zwitter-ionic surfactants for inventive cleaning compositions include betaines.In preferred embodiments, the cleaning compositions comprise the inventive polymer(s) and a builder. "Builders” are defined in more detail in paragraphs

[0014] to

[0018] of Reference RF1. These builders include non-phosphate based builders (NPB) and phosphonates (CoP) described in more detail in paragraphs

[3001] to

[3005] of Reference RF2.Builders may include, without limitation, methylglycinediaceticacid (MGDA), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA), iminodisuccinic acid, iminodiacetic acid, citric acid and salts thereof.In preferred embodiments, the cleaning compositions comprise the inventive polymer(s) and an enzyme. "Enzymes” are defined in more detail in paragraphs

[0020] to

[0027] of Reference RF1.Enzymes may include hydrolases, such as proteases, amylases, lipases, DNases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, mannanases, xylanases, dispersins, oxidoreductases, cutinases, pectate lyases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases. In more preferred embodiments, the cleaning composition comprises, in addition to the inventive compound(s), a protease and a protease stabilizing system comprising a peptide aldehyde.In preferred embodiments, the cleaning compositions comprise the inventive polymer(s) and a biocide. "Biocides” are defined in more detail in paragraphs

[0035] and

[0036] of Reference RF1. These biocides also include compounds as defined in more detail in paragraphs

[3006] and

[3007] of Reference RF2.Biocides may include, without limitation, 2-phenoxyethanol and 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylether.Further adjunct cleaning additives are included and described in more detail in paragraphs

[0005] ,

[0006] ,

[0019] ,

[0028] to

[0031] and

[0037] to

[0039] of Reference RF1.Liquid laundry formulations, solid laundry compositions, liquid manual dish wash formulations, automatic dish wash (ADW) gels and automatic dish wash (ADW) solid compositions comprising inventive polymer(s) are defined in more detail in paragraph

[0041] of Reference RF1.ExamplesSynthesis of inventive polymersSynthesis of Example 2: TEA, alkoxylated with 5 moles ethylene oxide and 20 mole propylene oxide per hydroxy groupExample 2a: TEA, alkoxylated with 5 moles ethylene oxide per hydroxy groupIn a 2 I autoclave 149.2 g TEA and 3.2 g potassium hydroxide (50 wt% in water) were placed and the mixture was heated to 100°C for dewatering under vacuum for 2 hours. The vessel was purged three times with nitrogen and the mixture was heated to 140°C. 660.8 g ethylene oxide was added within 12 hours. To complete the reaction, the mixture was allowed to post-react for additional 6 hours at 140°C. The reaction mixture was stripped with nitrogen and volatile compounds were removed in vacuo at 80°C. After filtration 812.0 g of yellow liquid was obtained.Example 2b: TEA, alkoxylated with 5 moles ethylene oxide and 20 mole propylene oxide per hydroxy groupIn a 2 1 autoclave 162.0 g TEA, ethoxylated with 5 moles ethylene oxide per hydroxy group (example 1a) and 2.8 g potassium hydroxide (50 wt% in water) were placed and the mixture was heated to 100°C for dewatering under vacuum for 2 hours. The vessel was purged three times with nitrogen and the mixture was heated to 140°C. 697.0 g propylene oxide was added within 12 hours. To complete the reaction, the mixture was allowed to post-react for additional 6 hours at 140°C. The reaction mixture was stripped with nitrogen and volatile compounds were removed in vacuo at 80°C. After filtration 860.0 g of a light yellow oil was obtained.Other polymer examples (E1 and E3 to E8) were synthesized according to similar procedures by adjusting the type of polyol core and the amount of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.Table 1 shows the inventive examples with corresponding calculated molecular weight (Mn), PDI of measured GPC and EO content. The measured molecular weight by GPC and the calculated molecular weight are consistent in that sense that the results for the measured molecular weight do not vary significantly (data not shown).Table 1. Chemistry of the inventive examples with corresponding molecular weight and EO content.Polymer biodegradabilityBiodegradation in wastewater was tested in triplicate using the OECD 301 F manometric respirometry method. OECD 301 F is an aerobic test that measures biodegradation of a sample by measuring the consumption of oxygen. To a measured volume of medium, 100 mg / L test substance, which is the nominal sole source of carbon is added along with the inoculum (30 mg / L, aerated sludge taken from Mannheim wastewater treatment plant). This is stirred in a closed flask at a constant temperature (20°C or 25°C) for 28 or 56 days, respectively. The consumption of oxygen is determined by measuring the change in pressure in the apparatus using an OxiTop® C (Xylem 35 Analytics Germany Sales GmbH & Co KG). Evolved carbon dioxide is absorbed in a solution of sodium hydroxide. Nitrification inhibitors are added to the flask to prevent usage of oxygen due to nitrification. The amount of oxygen taken up by the microbial population during biodegradation of the test substance (corrected for uptake by blank inoculum, run in parallel) is expressed as a percentage of ThOD (Theoretical oxygen demand, which is measured by the elemental analysis of the compound). A positive control Glucose / Glucosamine is run along with the test samples for each cabinet. Biodegradation data for inventive polymers are disclosed in Table 2.Table 2. Biodegradability data for inventive polymers after 28 days.Wash testsTable 3 shows the base liquid laundry detergent without any polymer (LLD.1) that has been used to carry out the application tests to determine the impact of the inventive polymers on the primary cleaning performance.Table 3. Composition of the base liquid laundry detergent.*) All data are wt% active ingredient, independent of the respective product form.Primary cleaning performanceTo determine the primary detergency, washing tests were carried out in Launder-O-Meter on oily / fatty stains and in full-scale washing machines on a collection of different stains covering all relevant stain groups. The wash tests in Launder-O-Meter and full-scale washing machines were carried out at two different washing temperatures.To determine the primary detergency via Launder-O-Meter, the cleaning performance on 8 different oily / fatty stains on cotton, polyester and polycotton fabrics (OFT, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands) was measured by determining the color difference (delta E) between the stains before and after wash using a reflectometer (Mach5 plus, a multi area color measurement instrument from ColourConsult). Each experiment containing the 8 different oily / fatty stains (Frying fat on cotton, Sebum BEY on polyester, Beef fat on cotton, Blood on cotton, Frying Fat on polycotton, Makeup on polycotton, Lipstick on polycotton, Sebum BEY on polycotton) was repeated 3 times, and the obtained data was used to calculate the average delta E value.By using these delta E values, the so-called "standardized cleaning performance” (delta delta E) has been calculated for each individual stain. The "standardized cleaning performance” (delta delta E) is the difference of the performance of the laundry detergent including the inventive polymer, or the comparative polymer, respectively, vs. the laundry detergent without any alkoxylated polymer, or comparative polymer, respectively.T able 4 shows the washing test conditions for Launder-O-Meter and T able 5 summarizes the obtained standardized cleaning performance on oily / fatty stains. The washing tests in Launder-O-Meter were performed at 40°C washing temperature. The standardized cleaning performance shown in Table 5 is the sum of the standardized cleaning performance of all 8 stains. The bigger the sum of the delta delta E value, the bigger the positive contribution of the inventive polymers or the comparative polymer, respectively, vs. the laundry detergent without any inventive polymer or comparative polymer, respectively, on the cleaning performance.Table 4. Washing conditions for evaluation of primary cleaning performance on oily / fatty stains in Launder-O-Meter.*) After the washing experiment, the test fabrics were rinsed with tap water followed by drying at ambient room temperature overnight, prior to the measurement with the Mach5 plusTable 5. Results from washing tests (primary cleaning performance on oily / fatty stains) in Launder-O-Meter at 40°C washing temperature.*) All data are referring to the active ingredient, independent of the respective product form.To determine the primary detergency in full-scale washing machines, the cleaning performance on a collection of 81 different stains on cotton, polyester and polycotton fabrics (CFT, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands) was measured by determining the color difference (delta E) between the stains before and after wash using a reflectometer (Mach5 plus, a multi area color measurement instrument from ColourConsult). Each experiment contained 81 different stains covering a variety of mainly oily / fatty stains. Each experiment was repeated 4 times, and the obtained data was used to calculate the average delta E value.By using these delta E values, the so-called "standardized cleaning performance” (delta delta E) has been calculated for each individual stain. The "standardized cleaning performance” (delta delta E) is the difference of the performance of the laundry detergent including the inventive polymer, or the comparative polymer, respectively, vs. the laundry detergent without any alkoxylated polymer, or comparative polymer, respectively.Table 6 shows the washing test conditions for full-scale washing machines and Table 7 summarizes the obtained standardized cleaning performance for all 81 stains. The tests in full-scale machines were performed at 30°C washing temperature. The standardized cleaning performance shown in Table 7 is the sum of the standardized cleaning performance of all 81 stains. The bigger the sum of the delta delta E value, the bigger the positive contribution of the inventive polymers or the comparative polymer, respectively, vs. the laundry detergent without any inventive polymer or comparative polymer, respectively, on the cleaning performance.Table 6. Washing conditions for evaluation of primary cleaning performance in full-scale washing machines.*) After the washing experiment, the test fabrics were dried at ambient room temperature overnight, prior to the measurement with the Mach5 plusTable 7. Results from washing tests in full-scale washing machines at 30°C washing temperature.*) All data are referring to the active ingredient, independent of the respective product form.As shown in Table 2 the inventive materials exhibit significant biodegradation properties in the OECD 301 F test after 28 days. Therefore, the inventive materials show a good combination of cleaning performance, in particular on oily / fatty stains and biodegradation.Inventive polymers in preservationPreservation of a phosphate buffer solution Phenoxyethanol - pH 7.0 - FungiThe samples were contaminated with a fungal mix consisting of:Aspergillus brasiliensis DSM 1988Rhodotorula mucilaginosa DSM 13621Yarrowia lipolytica DSM 8218Samples were inoculated with the fungi-mix at day 0 and day 7, stored at 25°C for 14 days. Inoculation to obtain 1 - 5 x10E+05 CFU / ml in test sample. CFU reading before re-inoculation at day 7 and at day 14. Phenoxyethanol is 2-phenoxyethanol. The Inventive Example E8 is TIPA + 5 EO / OH + 14 PO / OH as described above.Any CFU reading lower than the respective value of the "Comparative 1 + 2” (Phosphate buffer + 1.0% or 0.25% Phenoxyethanol) and "Comparative 3” (Phosphate buffer + 1.0% Inventive Example E8) indicates a synergistic performance.Table 8Preservation of a phosphate buffer solution with Phenoxyethanol - pH 7.0 - BacteriaThe samples were contaminated with a bacterial mix consisting of:Escherichia coli DSM 1576Alcali genes faecalis DSM 13644Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538Burkholderia cepacia DSM 7288Pseudomonas putida DSM 12735Samples were inoculated with the fungi-mix at day 0 and stored at 25°C for 14 days, inoculation to obtain 10E+06 to 10E+07 CFU / ml in test sample. CFU reading at day 7 and day 14. Phenoxyethanol is 2-phenoxyethanol. The Inventive Example E8 is TIPA + 5 EO / OH + 14 PO / OH as described above.Any CFU value lower than the respective value of the "Comparative 1” (Phosphate buffer + 1.0% Inventive Example E8) and "Comparative 2” (Phosphate buffer + 0.5% Phenoxyethanol) indicates a synergistic performance.Table 9Preservation of a phosphate buffer solution with Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) - pH 7.0 - BacteriaThe samples were contaminated with a bacterial mix consisting of:Escherichia coli DSM 1576Alcali genes faecalis DSM 13644Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538Burkholderia cepacia DSM 7288Pseudomonas putida DSM 12735Samples were inoculated with the fungi-mix at day 0 and stored at 25°C for 7 days, inoculation to obtain 10E+06 to 10EO7 CFU / ml in test sample. CFU reading at day 7. Benzisothiazolinone is 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one. The Inventive Example E8 is TIPA + 5 EO / OH + 14 PO / OH as described above.Any CFU value lower than the respective value of the "Comparative 1” (Phosphate buffer + 1 .0% Inventive Example E8) and "Comparative 2” (Phosphate buffer + 75ppm BIT) indicates a synergistic performance.Table 10Preservation of a phosphate buffer solution Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) - pH 7.0 - FungiThe samples were contaminated with a fungal mix consisting of:Aspergillus brasiliensis DSM 1988Rhodotorula mucilaginosa DSM 13621Yarrowia lipolytics DSM 8218Samples were inoculated with the fungi-mix at day 0 and day 7, stored at 25°C for 14 days. Inoculation to obtain 1 - 5 x10E+05 CFU / ml in test sample. CFU reading before re-inoculation at day 7. Benzisothiazolinone is 1 ,2- benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one. The Inventive Example E8 is TIPA + 5 EO / OH + 14 PO / OH as described above.Any CFU value lower than the respective value of the "Comparative 1” (Phosphate buffer + 1.0% Inventive Example E8) and "Comparative 2” (Phosphate buffer + 25ppm BIT) indicates a synergistic performance.Table 11Preservation of a phosphate buffer solution Bronopol - pH 7.0 - FungiThe samples were contaminated with a fungal mix consisting of:Aspergillus brasiliensis DSM 1988Rhodotorula mucilaginosa DSM 13621Yarrowia lipolytics DSM 8218Samples were inoculated with the fungi-mix at day 0 and day 7, stored at 25°C for 14 days. Inoculation to obtain 1 - 5 x10E+05 CFU / ml in test sample. CFU reading before re-inoculation at day 7. Bronopol is 2-bromo-2-nitropropane- 1 ,3-diol. The Inventive Example E8 is TIPA + 5 EO / OH + 14 PO / OH as described above.Any CFU value lower than the respective value of the "Comparative 1” (Phosphate buffer + 1.0% Inventive Example E8) and "Comparative 2” (Phosphate buffer + 25ppm BIT) indicates a synergistic performance.Table 12Inventive alkoxylated polymers and different solventsPreservation of a liquid detergent- pH 8.5 - Fungi mixCompositionTexapon N 70 (C12 ether-sulfate) 5.0%Lutensol AO 7 (C13-C15 alkohol 7EO) 7.0%Edenor K12 / 18 (C12-C18 soap) 0.5%Trilon M liquid (Naa-methylglycinediacetic acid) 0.15%Water add to 100% pH 8.5The samples were contaminated with a fungal mix consisting of:Aspergillus brasiliensis DSM 1988Rhodotorula mucilaginosa DSM 13621Yarrowia lipolytics DSM 8218The samples were inoculated with the fungal mix at day 0 to obtain 1 - 2 x105CFU / ml inoculation in the test sample consisting of the above-defined liquid detergent and stored at 25°C for 7 days. CFU was determined at day 7. The Inventive Example E8 is TIPA + 5 EO / OH + 14 PO / OH as described above.Any CFU reading lower than the respective value of the "Comparative 2 - 10” samples (liquid detergent + solvent) and "Comparative 1” (liquid detergent + 1.0% Inventive Example E8) indicates a better performance.Table 13

Claims

Claims1 . An alkoxylated polymer consisting or essentially consisting of(i) one unit of triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) and(ii) branches of alkylene oxide, wherein the branches of alkylene oxide consist of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO), wherein the content of ethylene oxide ranges from 6 to 22 wt% of the weight of the alkoxylated polymer, and wherein the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the alkoxylated polymer lies in the range of 3200 to 6500 g / mol.

2. The alkoxylated polymer according to claim 1, wherein the content of ethylene oxide ranges from 10 to 21 .7 wt% and preferably from 12 to 21.5 wt% of the weight of the alkoxylated polymer.

3. The alkoxylated polymer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the alkoxylated polymer lies in the range of 4000 to 6000 g / mol and preferably in the range of 4200 to 5600 g / mol.

4. The alkoxylated polymer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the alkylene oxide branches comprise or consist of on averageI) at least 2 ethylene oxide units (EOs), preferably at least 3 EOs and more preferably at least 4 EOs; andII) at least 10 propylene oxide units (POs), preferably at least 13 POs and more preferably at least 18 POs.

5. The alkoxylated polymer according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the alkylene oxide branches comprise or consist of on averageI) not more than 10 EOs, preferably not more than 8 EOs and more preferably not more than 6 EOs; andII) not more than 30 POs, preferably not more than 29 POs and more preferably not more than 28 POs.

6. The alkoxylated polymer according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the alkylene oxide branches comprise a block or random structure of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, preferably a block structure, more preferably an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide block.

7. The alkoxylated polymer according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein the alkoxylated polymer consists or essentially consists of one unit of triethanolamine (TEA).

8. The alkoxylated polymer according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said alkoxylated polymer demonstrates at least 60%, preferably at least 65% or more preferably at least 70% biodegradability according to standard OECD 301 F after at least 56 days, preferably after 28 days.

9. A process for preparing the alkoxylated polymer according to anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein triethanolamine (TEA) or triisopropanolamine (TIPA) is reacted with (I) at least 6 ethylene oxide molecules and (II) at least 30 propylene oxide molecules in order to obtain the respective alkoxylated polymer.

10. Use of the alkoxylated polymer according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in laundry detergents, in cleaning compositions, in fabric and home care products, in cosmetic formulations, as crude oil emulsion breaker, in pigment dispersions for ink jet inks, in formulations for electro plating, and / or in cementitious compositions, preferably in cleaning compositions and / or in fabric and home care products.11 . Use according to claim 10 in cleaning compositions and / or in fabric and home care products, preferably in cleaning compositions forI) removal of oily / fatty stains, and / orII) sebum removal, and / or ill) soil removal of particulate stains, and / or iv) dispersion and / or emulsification of soils, and / or v) modification of treated surface to improve removal upon later re-soiling, and / or vi) whiteness improvement and / or most preferably in cleaning compositions for removal of oily / fatty stains, each of the before mentioned options I) to vi) preferably for use in a laundry detergent formulation and / or a manual dish wash detergent formulation and / or in a formulation suitable for (pre)-treatment of textiles and / or soap bars, more preferably in a liquid laundry detergent formulation and / or a liquid manual dish wash detergent formulation.

12. A laundry detergent, cleaning composition, fabric and home care product, cosmetic formulation, crude oil emulsion breaker, pigment dispersion for ink jet inks, formulation for electro plating, and / or cementitious composition, comprising at least one alkoxylated polymer according to any of claims 1 to 8, preferably laundry detergent, cleaning composition and / or fabric and home care product, comprising at least one alkoxylated polymer according to any of claims 1 to 8.

13. The laundry detergent, cleaning composition, fabric or home care product according to claim 12 further comprising(a) an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol and 4,4'-dichoro 2- hydroxydiphenylether; preferably comprising 2-phenoxyethanol in an amount ranging from 2ppm to 5% by weight of the composition; more preferably comprising 0.1 to 2% of phenoxyethanol or preferably comprising 4,4'-dichoro2-hydroxydiphenylether in a concentration from 0.001 to 3%, more preferably 0.002 to 1%, even more preferably 0.01 to 0.6%, each by weight of the composition, and / or(b) at least one enzyme selected from the list consisting of lipases, hydrolases, amylases, DNases, proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, mannanases, xylanases, disperses, oxidoreductases, cutinases, pectate lyases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, more preferably at least one enzyme being selected from proteases and / or(c) at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants, and / or(d) at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of methylglycinediaceticacid (MGDA), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA), citric acid, iminodisuccinic acid, iminodiacetic acid and salts thereof and / or(e) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol, phenoxyisopropanol, 4,4'- dichloro 2'-hydroxydiphenylether, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 ,3-diol (Bronopol), glutaraldehyde, 2,4- dichlorobenzylalcohol, 1,3,5-tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5-hexahydrotriazine, formic acid and salts thereof, benzoic acid and salts thereof, sorbic acid and salts thereof, lactic acid and salts thereof, isothiazolinones selected from the group consisting of 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT), 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (MIT), 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (OIT), 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (CMIT), and 2-butyl-benzo[d]isothiazol-3-one (BBIT); 3-iodo-2- propynylbutylcarba_,mate (IPBC), benzyl alcohol, pyridine-2-thiol 1 -oxide and salts thereof; 2,2-dibromo-2- cyanoacetamide (DBNPA), N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-dodecyhpropane-1,3-diamine (Diamine), tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulphate(2: 1) (THPS), 2,2-dithiobis[N-methylbenzamide] (DTBMA), 2- bromo-2-(bromomethyl)pentanedinitril (DBDCB); 1-Butoxy-2-propanol, Dibutyl glycol, 1-Propoxy-2-propanol, Dipropylenglycol-methylether, 1 ,2-Pentandiol, Benzyl alcohol, 1-Phenoxy-2-propanol and Propylene glycol.

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