Methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether compounds

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions that comprise at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative. Examples include methyl alpha-1,3-glucan ethers, and methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ethers such as methyl dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer ethers. Further disclosed are methods of producing methyl ether derivatives, as well as their use in various applications and products.

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] METHYL ALPHA-GLUCAN GRAFT COPOLYMER ETHER COMPOUNDS This application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Appl Nos. 63 / 762,241, 63 / 762,247, and 63 / 762,251 (all filed on February 24, 2025), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0003] FIELD

[0004] The present disclosure is in the field of polysaccharide derivatives. For example, the disclosure pertains to methyl alpha-glucan ether derivatives such as methyl alpha-1,3-glucan ether compounds and methyl dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer ether compounds, and use of these materials in various applications.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Driven by a desire to find new structural polysaccharides using enzymatic syntheses or genetic engineering of microorganisms, researchers have discovered oligosaccharides and polysaccharides that are biodegradable and that can be made economically from renewably-sourced feedstocks. Further work has shown that such polysaccharides can be chemically modified (derivatized) to have additional utilities in areas such as personal care, household care, industrial care, pharmaceuticals and food. For example, ethers and esters of alpha-glucan comprising alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages have been disclosed to have various applications (e.g., U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2016 / 0304629, 2016 / 0311935, 2017 / 0204232, 2014 / 0187767, 2020 / 0308371). Various derivatives of alpha-glucan comprising alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages, and applications for use thereof, have also been disclosed (e.g., U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos.

[0007] 2018 / 0312781, 2018 / 0237816, 2018 / 0282385). Hydrophobicalily modified alphaglucans find applications as viscosity modifiers, emulsifiers, and film formers in liquid formulations such as laundry, fabric care, cleaning, and personal care compositions.

[0008] Despite these advances, there remains a need for glucan derivatives and processes for their production that allow better yields and / or other efficiencies. New glucan derivatives and production methods are disclosed herein, for example, to help address this need.

[0009] SUMMARY

[0010] In one embodiment, the present disclosure concerns a composition / product comprising at least one methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises:

[0011] (i) a backbone comprising dextran, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages(ii) one or more alpha-glucan side chains, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and (iii) about 30-70 wt% of the backbone, and about 30-70 wt% of the one or more side chains,

[0012] wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer has a degree of substitution (DoS) of at least about 1.5 with a methyl group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer.

[0013] In another embodiment, the present disclosure concerns a method of producing a methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer, the method comprising: (a) contacting an alpha-glucan graft copolymer with at least one etherification agent comprising a methyl group, wherein the contacting is performed in a reaction composition with ingredients / components that were brought together during a single mixing step, wherein the methyl group is etherified to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer, thereby producing a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises:

[0014] (i) a backbone comprising dextran, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages

[0015] (ii) one or more alpha-glucan side chains, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha- 1,3 glycosidic linkages, and

[0016] (iii) about 30-70 wt% of the backbone, and about 30-70 wt% of the one or more side chains, and

[0017] (b) optionally isolating the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative produced in step (a), wherein the isolating comprises washing the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative one or more times with (i) water or (ii) an aqueous liquid comprising at least 98 wt% water, thereby providing washed solids, wherein the washed solids optionally comprise less than about 0.5 wt% salt on a dry weight basis, optionally further wherein the isolating further comprises drying the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative following the washing.

[0018] In another embodiment, the present disclosure concerns a method of treating a substrate, the method comprising: (a) providing a composition comprising a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative as presently disclosed, (b) contacting a substrate with the composition, and (c) optionally rinsing the substrate; optionally wherein the substrate is a textile, fabric, carpet, upholstery, apparel, tableware, or surface.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The disclosures of all cited patent and non-patent literature are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0020] Unless otherwise disclosed, the terms “a” and “an" as used herein are intended to encompass one or more (i.e., at least one) of a referenced feature.

[0021] Where present, all ranges are inclusive and combinable, except as otherwise noted. For example, when a range of “1 to 5” (i.e., 1-5) is recited, the recited range should be construed as including ranges “1 to 4”, “1 to 3”, "1-2”, “1-2 & 4-5”, “1-3 & 5", and the like. The numerical values of the various ranges in the present disclosure, unless expressly indicated otherwise, are stated as approximations as though the minimum and maximum values within the stated ranges were both proceeded by the word “about", in this manner, slight variations above and below the stated ranges can typically be used to achieve substantially the same results as values within the ranges. Also, the disclosure of these ranges is intended as a continuous range including each and every value between the minimum and maximum values.

[0022] It is intended that every maximum numerical limitation given throughout this specification includes every lower numerical limitation, as if such lower numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every minimum numerical limitation given throughout this specification will include every higher numerical limitation, as if such higher numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every numerical range given throughout this specification will include every narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numerical range, as if such narrower numerical ranges were all expressly written herein.

[0023] It is to be appreciated that certain features of the present disclosure, which are, for clarity, described above and below in the context of aspects / embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single element. Conversely, various features of the disclosure that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single aspect / embodiment, can also be provided separately or in any sub-combination.

[0024] A “glucan" herein is a type of polysaccharide that is a polymer of glucose (polyglucose). A glucan can be comprised of, for example, about, or at least about, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% by weight glucose monomeric units. Alpha-glucan is an examples of a glucan herein.

[0025] The terms “alpha-glucan", “alpha-glucan polymer" and the like are used interchangeably herein. An alpha-glucan is a polymer comprising glucose monomeric units linked together by alpha-glycosidic linkages. In typical aspects, the glycosldiclinkages of an alpha-glucan herein are about, or at least about, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% alpha-glycosidic linkages. Examples of alpha-glucan polymers herein include alpha-1,6-glucan, alpha-1,3-glucan, and graft copolymers thereof.

[0026] The term ’‘saccharide” and other like terms herein refer to monosaccharides and / or disaccharides / oligosaccha rides, unless otherwise noted. A “disaccharide” herein refers to a carbohydrate having two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage. An “oligosaccharide” herein can refer to a carbohydrate having 3 to 15 monosaccharides, for example, joined by glycosidic linkages. An oligosaccharide can also be referred to as an “oligomer''. Monosaccharides (e.g., glucose and / or fructose) comprised within disaccharides / oligosaccharides can be referred to as “monomeric units”, “monosaccharide units", or other like terms.

[0027] The terms "alpha-1,3-glucan”, “poly alpha-1,3-glucan”, “alpha-1,3-glucan polymer” and the like are used interchangeably herein. Alpha-1, 3-glucan is an alpha¬ glucan comprising glucose monomeric units linked together by glycosidic linkages, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages are alpha-1,3. Alpha-1,3-glucan in some aspects comprises about, or at least about, 90%, 95%, or 100% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. Most or all of the other linkages, if present, in alpha-1, 3-glucan herein typically are alpha- 1,6, though some linkages may also be alpha- 1,2 and / or alpha-1,4. Alpha-1,3-glucan herein is typically water-insoluble.

[0028] The terms "alpha-1,6~glucan”, “poly alpha-1,6-glucan”, “alpha-1, 6-glucan polymer”, “dextran”, and the like herein refer to a water-soluble alpha-glucan comprising glucose monomeric units linked together by glycosidic linkages, wherein at least about 40% or 50% of the glycosidic linkages are alpha-1,6. Alpha-1,6-glucan in some aspects comprises about, or at least about, 90%, 95%, or 100% alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages. Other linkages that can optionally be present in alpha-1,6-glucan include alpha-1,2, alpha-1,3, and / or alpha-1,4 linkages.

[0029] An “alpha- 1,2 branch” (and like terms) as referred to herein typically comprises a glucose that is alpha-1,2-linked to a dextran backbone; thus, an alpha-1,2 branch herein can also be referred to as an alpha-1,2,6 linkage. An alpha-1,2 branch herein typically has one glucose group (can optionally be referred to as a pendant glucose). In some aspects, an alpha-1, 2-branched dextran can be used to produce a dextran-alpha-1,3- glucan graft copolymer herein (i.e., an alpha-1, 2-branched dextran can be the backbone of such a graft copolymer).An “alpha- 1,3 branch” (and like terms) as referred to herein typically comprises a glucose that is alpha-1, 3-iinked to a dextran backbone; thus, an alpha-1,3 branch herein can also be referred to as an alpha-1,3,6 linkage. An alpha-1,3 branch herein typically has one glucose group (can optionally be referred to as a pendant glucose). In some aspects, an alpha-1,3-branched dextran can be used to produce a dextran-alpha-1.3- glucan graft copolymer herein (i.e., an alpha-1,3-branched dextran can be the backbone of such a graft copolymer).

[0030] The term ‘copolymer” in some aspects refers to a polymer comprising at least two different types of alpha-glucan, such as dextran and alpha-1,3-glucan.

[0031] The terms “graft copolymer”, ‘branched copolymer" and the like herein generally refer to a copolymer comprising a "backbone” (or “main chain”) and one or more side chains branching from the backbone. The side chains are structurally distinct from the backbone.

[0032] Examples of graft copolymers herein are “dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymers” (and like terms) that comprise a backbone comprising dextran, and one or more side chains of alpha-1,3-glucan. A backbone in some aspects can itself be a branched dextran as disclosed herein; the addition of alpha-1, 3-glucan side chains to such a backbone (thereby forming a graft copolymer herein) can be, for example, via enzymatic extension from non-reducing ends presented by short branches (alpha-1,2, -1,3, or -1,4 branch, each typically comprised of a single glucose monomer; i.e., pendant glucose). Short branches (that can be enzymatically extended into an alpha-1, 3-glucan side chain) can be present on an otherwise linear or mostly linear dextran, or can be present on a branching dextran. In some aspects, alpha-1, 3-glucan can also be synthesized from non-reducing ends of dextran main chains, such as in embodiments in which the dextran backbone is linear or mostly linear, or embodiments in which the dextran backbone is branching (e.g., dendritic, or not dendritic [branches do not emanate from a core] but has branch-on-branch structure); such alpha-1,3-glucan is not, technically-speaking, a side chain to the dextran, but rather an extension from the dextran main chain(s). Yet, in some aspects, a dextran-al ha-1, 3-glucan graft copolymer can be made using an alpha- 1, 3-glucan sucrase enzyme (glucosyltransferase) to synthesize one or more alpha-1,3-glucan side chains off of a linear, unbranched dextran (e.g., alpha-1, 6-glucan with 100% alpha-1, 6-glycosidic linkages) (i.e.. the sucrase in this aspect has both alpha-1,3-branching activity and alpha-1,3-glucan synthesis activity [being able to extend the alpha-1,3 branch to make a side chain]).The percent branching in an alpha-glucan or derivative thereof herein refers to that percentage of all the linkages in the alpha-glucan or derivative thereof that represent branch points. For example, the percent of alpha-1,2 branching in an alpha-glucan herein refers to that percentage of all the linkages in the glucan that represent alpha-1,2 branch points. Except as otherwise noted, linkage percentages disclosed herein are based on the total linkages of an alpha-glucan or derivative thereof, or the portion of an alpha-glucan or derivative thereof for which a disclosure specifically regards.

[0033] The terms “linkage", “glycosidic linkage", “glycosidic bond” and the like refer to the covalent bonds connecting the sugar monomers within a saccharide compound (oligosaccharides and / or polysaccharides). Examples of glycosidic linkages include 1,6-alpha-D-glycosidic linkages (herein also referred to as ’‘alpha-1,6" linkages), 1,3-alpha- D-glycosidic linkages (herein also referred to as “alpha-1,3" linkages), 1,4-alpha-D- glycosidic linkages (herein also referred to as ’‘alpha-1,4" linkages), and 1,2-alpha-D- glycosidic linkages (herein also referred to as “alpha-1,2’’ linkages).

[0034] The glycosidic linkage profile of an alpha-glucan or derivative thereof can be determined using any method known in the art. For example, a linkage profile can be determined using methods using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (e.g.,13C NMR and / or1H NMR). These and other methods that can be used are disclosed in, for example, Food Carbohydrates: Chemistry, Physical Properties, and Applications (S. W. Cui, Ed., Chapter 3, S. W. Cui, Structural Analysis of Polysaccharides, Taylor & Francis Group LLC, Boca Raton, FL, 2005), which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0035] The “molecular weight” of an alpha-giucan or alpha-giucan derivative herein can be represented as weight-average molecular weight (Mw) or number-average molecular weight (Mn), the units of which are in Daltons (Da) or grams / mole. Alternatively, molecular weight can be represented as DPw (weight average degree of polymerization) or DPn (number average degree of polymerization). The molecular weight of smaller alpha-glucan polymers such as oligosaccharides can optionally be provided as “DP" (degree of polymerization), which simply refers to the number of monomers comprised within the alpha-giucan; “DP" can also characterize the molecular weight of a polymer on an individual molecule basis. Various means are known in the art for calculating these various molecular weight measurements such as with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), or gel permeation chromatography (GPC).As used herein, Mw can be calculated as Mw = ENiMi2 / ENiMi; where Mi is the molecular weight of an individual chain i and Ni is the number of chains of that molecular weight. Besides SEC, the Mw of a polymer can be determined by other techniques such as static light scattering, mass spectrometry, MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption / ionization time-of-flight), small angle X-ray or neutron scattering, or ultracentrifugation. As used herein, Mn can be calculated as Mn = ENiMi / ENi where Mi is the molecular weight of a chain i and Ni is the number of chains of that molecular weight. Besides SEC, the Mn of a polymer can be determined by various colligative property methods such as vapor pressure osmometry, end-group determination by spectroscopic methods such as proton NMR, proton FTIR, or UV-Vis. As used herein, DPw and DPn can be calculated from Mw and Mn, respectively, by dividing them by molar mass of the one monomer unit Mi. in the case of unsubstituted glucan polymer, Mi = 162. In the case of a substituted (derivatized) glucan polymer, Mi = 162 + Mf x DoS, where Mf is molar mass of the substituting group, and DoS is degree of substitution (average number of substituted groups per one glucose unit of the glucan polymer).

[0036] “Alpha-glucan ether derivative”, “methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative”, “methyl alpha-glucan", and like terms herein typically refer to an alpha-glucan herein (e.g., alpha-1,3-glucan or dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer) substituted with at least one methyl group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan. Examples include methyl alpha- 1,3-glucan ether and methyl dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer ether. The degree of substitution (DoS) of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein can be up to about 3.0 (e.g,, about 0.001 to about 3.0), for example. In some aspects (e.g., a methyl alpha-1,3-glucan herein), the DoS can be about 1.0 to about 1.4. In some aspects (e.g., a methyl alpha-1, 3-glucan herein), the DoS can be about 0.8 to about 2.0. in some aspects (e.g., a dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer herein), the DoS can be at least about 1.5. A precursor of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein typically refers to the non-derivatized alpha-glucan used to make the ether derivative (can also be referred to as the alpha-glucan portion of the ether derivative).

[0037] The term “degree of substitution" (DoS, or DS) as used herein refers to the average number of hydroxyl groups that are substituted with one or more types of organic group in each monomeric unit of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative. The DoS of a methyl alpha-glucan ether herein can be stated with reference to the DoS of a specific substituent (e.g., the etherified methyl group), or the overall DoS, which is (i) the sum of the DoS values of different substituent types (e.g., the etherified methyl group and at least one other linked organic group), or (ii) simply the DoS with methyl groups (inderivatives having only etherified methyl groups as substituents). Unless otherwise disclosed herein, DoS is stated with reference to methyi groups.

[0038] The “ether" linkage / portion of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein is termed an “ether” herein, for example, by virtue of comprising the substructure -CG-O-C-, where “-CG-" represents a carbon atom of a monomeric unit (e.g., glucose) of the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative (where such carbon atom was bonded to a hydroxyl group [-OH] in the alpha-glucan precursor of the derivative), and where “-C-" is the carbon atom of the methyi group (etherified methyl group).

[0039] The terms “aqueous liquid”, “aqueous fluid”, “aqueous conditions”, “aqueous reaction conditions", “aqueous setting”, “aqueous system” and the like as used herein can refer to water or an aqueous solution. An “aqueous solution" herein can comprise one or more dissolved salts, where the maximal total salt concentration can be about 3.5 wt% in some aspects. Although aqueous liquids herein typically comprise water as the only solvent in the liquid, an aqueous liquid can optionally comprise one or more other solvents (e.g., polar organic solvent) that are miscible in water. Thus, an aqueous solution can comprise a solvent having at least about 10 wt% water.

[0040] An “aqueous composition" herein has a liquid component that comprises about, or at least about, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 99, or 100 wt% water, for example. Examples of aqueous compositions include mixtures, solutions, dispersions (e.g., suspensions, colloidal dispersions) and emulsions, for example.

[0041] As used herein, the term “colloidal dispersion” refers to a heterogeneous system having a dispersed phase and a dispersion medium, i.e., microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended throughout another substance (e.g., an aqueous composition such as water or aqueous solution). An example of a colloidal dispersion herein is a hydrocolloid. The terms “dispersant” and “dispersion agent” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a material that promotes the formation and / or stabilization of a dispersion. “Dispersing" herein refers to the act of preparing a dispersion of a material in an aqueous liquid. As used herein, the term "latex” (and like terms) refers to a dispersion of one or more types of polymer particles in water or aqueous solution. In some aspects, a latex is an emulsion that comprises dispersed particles. An “emulsion” herein is a dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another liquid in which the droplets are not soluble or miscible (e.g., a non-polar substance such as oil or other organic liquid such as an alkane, in a polar liquid such as water or aqueous solution).A methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative that is “soluble”, “aqueous-soluble”, or “water-soluble" (and like terms), which is typically the case herein, dissolves (or appreciably dissolves) in water or other aqueous conditions, optionally where the aqueous conditions are further characterized to have a pH of 4-9 (e.g., pH 6-8) and / or temperature of about 1 to 130 °C (e.g., 20-25 ’C). In some aspects, an aqueous-soluble methyl alpha-glucan ether is soluble at 1% by weight or higher in pH 7 water at 25 °C. An alpha-glucan precursor or a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative that is "insoluble”, "aqueous-insoluble’', or "water-insoluble” (and like terms) does not dissolve under the foregoing conditions.

[0042] The term "viscosity" as used herein refers to the measure of the extent to which a fluid (aqueous or non-aqueous) resists a force tending to cause it to flow. Various units of viscosity that can be used herein include centipoise (cP, cps) and Pascal-second (Pa s), for example. A centipoise is one one-hundredth of a poise; one poise is equal to 0.100 kg-rm1-s“1. Viscosity can be reported as “intrinsic viscosity" (IV, q, units of dl / g) in some aspects: this term refers to a measure of the contribution of a glucan polymer to the viscosity of a liquid (e.g., solution) comprising the glucan polymer. IV measurements herein can be obtained, for example, using any suitable method such as disclosed in U. S. Pat. Appl. Publ. Nos. 2017 / 0002335, 2017 / 0002336, or 2018 / 0340199, or Weaver et al. (J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 35:1631-1637) or Chun and Park (Macromol. Chem. Phys.

[0043] 195:701-711), which are all incorporated herein by reference. IV can be measured, in part, by dissolving glucan polymer (optionally dissolved at about 100 °C for at least 2, 4, or 8 hours) in DMSO with about 0.9 to 2.5 wt% (e.g., 1, 2, 1-2 wt%) LiCI, for example. IV herein can optionally be used as a relative measure of molecular weight.

[0044] The term “household care product” and like terms typically refer to products, goods and services relating to the treatment, cleaning, caring and / or conditioning of a home and its contents. The foregoing include, for example, chemicals, compositions, products, or combinations thereof having application in such care.

[0045] The terms “fiber”, “fibers" and the like herein can refer to staple fibers (staple length fibers) or continuous fibers (filaments), for example. Fibers of the disclosure can comprise at least a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative, for example. Fibers can be comprised in a fiber-containing composition, article, material, or product, for example, such as a woven product or non-woven product (e.g., a unit dose herein in the form of a tile or similar form). A fiber herein can be water-soluble or water-dispersible, for example.The term “woven product’ and like terms herein refer to a product formed by weaving, braiding, interlacing, or otherwise intertwining threads or fibers in an organized, consistent, and / or repeating manner.

[0046] The terms “non-woven”, “non-woven product”, “non-woven web” and the like herein refer to a web of individual fibers (e,g., filaments or staple fibers) that are interlaid, typically in a random or unidentifiable manner. This contrasts with a knitted or woven fabric, which has an identifiable network of fibers. In some aspects, a non-woven product comprises a non-woven web that is bound or attached to another material such as a substrate or backing. A non-woven in some aspects can further contain a binder or adhesive (strengthening agent) that binds adjacent non-woven fibers together. A nonwoven binder or adhesive agent can be applied to the non-woven in the form of a dispersion / latex, solution, or solid, for example, and then the treated non-woven is typically dried.

[0047] The terms "fabric”, “textile", “cloth” and the like are used interchangeably herein to refer to a woven material having a network of natural and / or artificial fibers. Such fibers can be in the form of thread or yarn, for example.

[0048] A “fabric care composition” and like terms refer to any composition suitable for treating fabric in some manner. Examples of such a composition include laundry detergents and fabric softeners, which are examples of laundry care compositions.

[0049] A “detergent composition" herein typically comprises at least a surfactant (detergent compound) and / or a builder. A “surfactant" herein refers to a substance that tends to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which the substance is dissolved. A surfactant may act as a detergent, wetting agent, emulsifier, foaming agent, and / or dispersant, for example.

[0050] The terms “heavy duty detergent”, “all-purpose detergent” and the like are used interchangeably herein to refer to a detergent useful for regular washing of white and / or colored textiles at any temperature. The terms "low duty detergent”, “fine fabric detergent" and the like are used interchangeably herein to refer to a detergent useful for the care of delicate fabrics such as viscose, wool, silk, microfiber, or other fabric requiring special care, “Special care” can include conditions of using excess water, low agitation, and / or no bleach, for example.

[0051] The term “personal care product” and like terms typically refer to products, goods and services relating to the treatment, cleaning, cleansing, caring or conditioning of a person. The foregoing include, for example, chemicals, compositions, products, or combinations thereof having application in such care.The term “medical product" and like terms typically refer to products, goods and services relating to the diagnosis, treatment, and / or care of patients.

[0052] The terms "ingestible product”, "ingestible composition” and the like refer to any substance that, either alone or together with another substance, may be taken orally (i.e., by mouth), whether intended for consumption or not. Thus, an ingestible product includes food / beverage products. “Food / beverage products” refer to any edible product intended for consumption (e.g., for nutritional purposes) by humans or animals, including solids, semi-solids, or liquids. A “food” herein can optionally be referred to as a “foodstuff", “food product”, or other like term, for example. " Non-edible products” (“nonedible compositions”) refer to any composition that can be taken by the mouth for purposes other than food or beverage consumption. Examples of non-edible products herein include supplements, nutraceuticals, functional food products, pharmaceutical products, oral care products (e.g., dentifrices, mouthwashes), and cosmetic products such as sweetened lip balms.

[0053] A “pharmaceutical product", “medicine”, “medication”, “drug” or like term herein refers to a composition used to treat disease or injury, and can be administered enteraily or parenterally.

[0054] An “oral care composition” herein is any composition suitable for treating a soft or hard surface in the oral cavity such as dental (teeth) and / or gum surfaces.

[0055] The term “industrial product” and like terms typically refer to products, goods and services used in industrial and / or institutional settings, but typically not by individual consumers.

[0056] The terms “film", “sheet” and like terms herein refer to a generally thin, visually continuous material. A film can be comprised as a layer or coating on a material, or can be alone (e.g., not attached to a material surface; free-standing). A “coating” (and like terms) as used herein refers to a layer covering a surface of a material. The term “uniform thickness” as used to characterize a film or coating herein can refer to a contiguous area that (i) is at least 20% of the total film / coating area, and (ii) has a standard deviation of thickness of less than about 50 nm, for example. The term "continuous layer” means a layer of a composition applied to at feast a portion of a substrate, wherein a dried layer of the composition covers ≥99% of the surface to which it has been applied and having less than 1% voids in the layer that expose the substrate surface. The ≥99% of the surface to which the layer has been applied excludes any area of the substrate to which the layer has not been applied. A coating herein can make a continuous layer in some aspects. A coating composition (and like terms) hereinrefers to all the solid components that form a layer on a substrate, such as a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein and, optionally, pigment, surfactant, dispersing agent, binder, crosslinking agent, and / or other additives. A film, sheet, or coating can be water-soluble or water-dispersible, for example.

[0057] A "composite" herein is a composition that comprises two or more components of the present disclosure (e.g., methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative and another polymer and / or additive). Typically, the components of a composite resist separation and one or more of the components display enhanced and / or different properties as compared to its properties alone, outside the composite (i.e., a composite is not simply an admixture, which generally is easily separable to its original components). A composite herein generally is a solid material (typically dry), and can be made via an extrusion or molding process, for example.

[0058] The terms "sequence identity”, "identity” and the like as used herein with respect to a polypeptide amino acid sequence (e.g., that of a glucosyltransferase) are as defined and determined in U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2017 / 0002336, for example, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0059] A composition herein that is "dry” or "dried" typically has less than 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.1 wt% water comprised therein.

[0060] The terms “percent by volume", “volume percent”, “vol %’:, “v / v %” and the like are used interchangeably herein. The percent by volume of a solute in a solution can be determined using the formula: [(volume of solute) / (volume of solution)] x 100%.

[0061] The terms “percent by weight”, “weight percentage (wt%)", “weight-weight percentage (% w / w)” and the like are used interchangeably herein. Percent by weight refers to the percentage of a material on a mass basis as it is comprised in a composition, mixture, or solution.

[0062] The terms “weight / volume percent”, “w / v%” and the like are used interchangeably herein. Weight / volume percent can be calculated as: ((mass [g] of material) / (total volume [mL] of the material plus the liquid in which the material is placed)) x 100%. The material can be insoluble in the liquid (i.e., be a solid phase in a liquid phase, such as with a dispersion), or soluble in the liquid (i.e., be a solute dissolved in the liquid).

[0063] The term “isolated" means a substance (or process) in a form or environment that does not occur in nature. A non-limiting example of an isolated substance includes any methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative disclosed herein. It is believed that the embodiments disclosed herein are synthetic / man-made (could not have been made orpracticed except for human intervention / involvement), and / or have properties that are not naturally occurring.

[0064] The term “increased'' as used herein can refer to a quantity or activity that is at least about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 50%, 100%, or 200% more than the quantity or activity for which the increased quantity or activity is being compared. The terms "increased", “elevated", “enhanced", “greater than", “improved" and the like are used interchangeably herein.

[0065] Aipha-1,3-glucan can be used herein to provide a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative (e.g., a methyl alpha- 1,3-glucan ether derivative) in some aspects. Such alpha-1,3-glucan in some aspects can comprise about, or at least about, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, or 100% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. In some aspects, accordingly, an alpha- 1,3-glucan has about, or less than about, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, or 0% glycosidic linkages that are not alpha-1,3. Typically, the glycosidic linkages that are not alpha-1,3 are mostly or entirely alpha-1,6. It should be understood that the higher the percentage of alpha-1,3 linkages present in an alpha-1, 3-glucan, the greater the probability that the glucan is linear, since there are lower occurrences of certain linkages that might be part of branch points. In some aspects, alpha- 1,3-glucan has no branch points or less than about 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% branch points as a percent of the glycosidic linkages in the alpha-1,3-glucan.

[0066] The DPw or DPn of the alpha-1,3-glucan portion of a methyl alpha-1, 3-glucan ether derivative in some aspects can be about, or at least about, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, or 4000. DPw or DPn can optionally be expressed as a range between any two of these values. Merely as examples, the DPw or DPn of alpha-1,3-glucan can be about 300-1600, 400-1600, 500-1600, 600-1600, 700-1600, 300-1250, 400-1250, 500-1250, 600-1250, 700-1250, 300-1000, 400-1000, 500-1000, 600-1000, 700-1000, 300-900, 400-900, 500-900, 600-900, 700-900, 750-850, 600-800, 1500- 1900, 1500-1800, 1500-1700, 1600-2000, 1600-1900, 1600-1800, 1600-1700, 1700-2000, or 1700-1900. In some aspects, the DPw or DPn of alpha-1, 3-glucan can be up to about 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, or 4000. The alpha-1,3-glucan portion of an alpha-1,3-glucan derivative in some aspects can have a molecular weight as reflected by intrinsic viscosity (IV); e.g., IV canbe about, or at least about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 6-8, 6-7, 6-22, 6-20, 6-17, 6-15, 6-12, 10-22, 10-20, 10-17, 10-15, 10-12, 12-22, 12-20, 12-17, or 12-15 dL / g. For comparison purposes, note that the IV of alpha-glucan with at least 90% (e.g., about 99% or 100%) alpha-1,3 linkages and a DPw of about 800 has an IV of about 2-2.5 dL / g. IV herein can be as measured with alpha-glucan polymer dissolved in DMSO with about 0.9 to 2.5 wt% (e.g., 1, 2, 1-2 wt%) LICI, for example.

[0067] The alpha-1,3-glucan portion of an alpha- 1,3-glucan derivative herein can be as disclosed (e.g., molecular weight, linkage profile, production method), for example, in U. S. Patent Nos. 7000000, 8871474, or 10301604, or U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2019 / 0112456, 2019 / 0078062, 2019 / 0078063, 2018 / 0340199, 2018 / 0021238, 2018 / 0273731, 2017 / 0002335, or 2015 / 0232819, which are each incorporated herein by reference.

[0068] An alpha-glucan graft copolymer (e.g., dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer) can be used herein to provide a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative (e.g., a methyl dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative) in some aspects. The alpha-glucan graft copolymer portion of a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative herein can be as disclosed (e.g., molecular weight, linkage / branching profile, production method), for example, in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2020 / 0165360, 2019 / 0185893, 2020 / 0131281, or 2023 / 0235097, or Int. Pat. Appl. Publ. No. WO2026 / 39397, which are each incorporated herein by reference. An alpha-glucan graft copolymer can comprise alpha-1,6-glucan (as backbone) and alpha-1, 3-glucan (as one or more side chains), where the latter component has been grafted onto the former component; typically, such a graft copolymer is produced by using alpha-1,6-glucan or alpha-1,2- and / or alpha-1,3-branched alpha-1, 6-glucan as a primer for alpha-1,3-glucan synthesis by an alpha-1,3-glucan-producing glucosyltransferase (alpha-1,3-glucan sucrase). Alpha-1, 3-glucan side chain(s) of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer herein can be any alpha-1,3-glucan as presently disclosed, for example. Alpha- 1, 6-glucan (“dextran") backbone of an alpha¬ glucan graft copolymer herein can be alpha-1,6-glucan, or alpha-1,2- and / or alpha-1, 3-branched alpha-1,6-glucan, as presently disclosed, for example. Alpha-1, 6-glucan backbone of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer in some aspects can be of 100% alpha-1,6 linkages with no branches (i.e., linear dextran). An alpha-1,3-glucan side chain(s) in some additional or alternative aspects can be produced directly from an internal alpha-1, 6-glucan portion of dextran (e.g., a completely linear dextran, or a branched dextran) by an alpha-1,3-glucan-producing GTF, without the need of there being a pre-existingbranch from the alpha-1,6-glucan segment from which the GTF would otherwise have extended. In some aspects, following the provision of a dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer, the length of one or more (e.g., all of) the alpha-1,3-glucan side chains of the graft copolymer can be reduced in size enzymatically or chemically. For example, side chain size reduction can be performed using a mutanase enzyme, such as one disclosed in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2018 / 0049457, which is incorporated herein by reference. In some aspects, following the provision of a dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer, the dextran portion of the graft copolymer can be reduced in size enzymatically or chemically. For example, dextran size reduction can be performed using a dextranase enzyme, such as one disclosed in U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No.

[0069] 2018 / 0049457 (ibid.).

[0070] A dextran (alpha-1,6-glucan) forming the backbone of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer herein can comprise, for example, about, or at least about, 40%, 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, or 100% alpha-1, 6-glycosidic linkages. Such a percent alpha-1,6 linkage profile takes into account the total of all linkages in the dextran (main chains of alpha-1,6 glucan and, if present, branch portions therefrom). “Dextran branches" and like terms herein are meant to encompass any branches that might exist in a dextran polymer prior to its use to prepare an alpha-glucan graft copolymer as disclosed.

[0071] A dextran (alpha-1,6-glucan) forming the backbone of a graft copolymer herein can have alpha-1,2, alpha-1,3, and / or alpha-1,4 branches, for example. In some aspects, about, at least about, or less than about, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 2-25%, 2-20%, 2-15%, 2-10%, 3-25%, 3-20%, 3-15%, 3-10%, 5-30%, 5-25%, 5-20%, 5-15%, 5-10%, 7-13%, 8-12%, 9-11%, 10-30%, 10-25%, 10-22%, 10-20%, 10-15%, 12-20%, 12-18%, 14-20%, 14-18%, 15-30%, 15-25%, 15-20%, 15-18%, 15-17%, 20-45%, 20-40%, 20-35%, 20-30%, 20-25%, 30-45%, or 30-40% of ail the glycosidic linkages of a branched alpha-1,6-glucan are alpha-1,2, alpha-1,3, and / or alpha-1,4 glycosidic branch linkages (in some aspects, alpha-1,2 branches or alpha-1,3 branches are the only type of branches present). Such branches typically are mostly (>90% or >95%), or all (100%), a single glucose monomer in length, in some aspects, alpha-1, 6-glucan with alpha-1,2-branching can be produced enzymatically according to the procedures in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos.2017 / 0218093 or 2018 / 0282385 (both incorporated herein by reference) where, for example, an alpha-1,2-branching enzyme such as GTF J18T1 or GTF9905 can be added during or after the production of the dextran. In some aspects, any other enzyme known to produce alpha-1,2-branching can be used. Alpha-1,6-glucan with alpha-1,3-branching can be prepared, for example, as disclosed in Vuillemin et al. (2016, J. Biol Chem. 291:7687-7702) or U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2022 / 0267745, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0072] A backbone of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer herein can be comprised entirely of a dextran as presently disclosed. However, in some aspects, a backbone can comprise other elements. For example, a graft copolymer backbone can comprise alpha-1,3-glucan originating from the non-reducing end of a dextran main chain (or nonreducing ends of main chains of a dendritic dextran, or branched but not dendritic dextran), by virtue of a main chain (at its non-reducing end) serving to prime alpha-1, 3- glucan synthesis during synthesis of the graft copolymer.

[0073] A dextran (alpha-1,6-glucan) forming the backbone of a graft copolymer herein can have a DPw, DPn, or DP of about, at least about, or less than about, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 65, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 120, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 8-20, 8-30, 8-100, 8-500, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 3-7.

[0074] 3-8, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8, 5-6, 5-7, 5-8, 6-7, 6-8, 7-8, 90-120, 95-120, 100-120, 105-120, 110-120, 115-120, 90-115, 95-115, 100-115, 105-115, 110-115, 90-110, 95-110, 100- 110, 105-110, 90-105, 95-105, 100-105, 90-100, 95-100, 90-95, 85-95, 85-90, 5-100, 5- 250, 5-500, 5-1000, 5-1500, 5-2000, 5-2500, 5-3000, 5-4000, 5-5000, 5-6000, 10-100, 10-250, 10-500, 10-1000, 10-1500, 10-2000, 10-2500, 10-3000, 10-4000, 10-5000, 10-6000, 25-100, 25-250, 25-500, 25-1000, 25-1500, 25-2000, 25-2500, 25-3000, 25-4000, 25-5000, 25-6000, 30-60, 30-90, 30-120, 30-600, 30-1000, 30-1500, 30-1850, 30-2000, 50-100, 50-250, 50-500, 50-1000, 50-1500, 50-2000, 50-2500, 50-3000, 50-4000, 50-5000, 50-6000, 60-90, 60-120, 60-600, 100-250, 100-400, 100-500, 100-1000, 100- 1500, 100-2000, 100-2500, 100-3000, 100-4000, 100-5000, 100-6000, 200-300, 250- 500, 250-1000, 250-1500, 250-2000, 250-2500, 250-3000, 250-4000, 250-5000, 250-6000, 300-2800, 300-3000, 350-2800, 350-3000, 500-1000, 500-1500, 500-2000, 500-2500, 500-2800, 500-3000, 500-4000, 500-5000, 500-6000, 600-1550, 600-1850, 600-2000, 600-2500, 600-3000, 750-1000, 750-1250, 750-1500, 750-2000, 750-2500, 750-3000, 750-4000, 750-5000, 750-6000, 900-1250, 900-1500, 900-2000, 1000-1250, 1000-1400, 1000-1500, 1000-2000, 1000-2500, 1000-3000, 1000-4000, 1000-5000,1000-6000, or 1100-1300, for example. The Mw of alpha- 1,6-glucan in some aspects can be about, at least about, or less than about, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, 0.24, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 0.1-0.2, 0.125-0.175, 0.13-0.17, 0.135-0.165, 0.14- 0.16, 0.145-0.155, 10-80, 20-70, 30-60, 40-50, 50-200, 60-200, 70-200, 80-200, 90-200, 100-200, 110-200, 120-200, 50-180, 60-180, 70-180, 80-180, 90-180, 100-180, 110-180, 120-180, 50-160, 60-160, 70-160, 80-160, 90-160, 100-160, 110-160, 120-160, 50-140, 60-140, 70-140, 80-140, 90-140, 100-140, 110-140, 120-140, 50-120, 60-120, 70-120, 80-120, 90-120, 90-110, 100-120, 110-120, 50-110, 60-110, 70-110, 80-110, 90-110, 100-110, 50-100, 60-100, 70-100, 80-100, 90-100, or 95-105 million Daltons. The Mw of alpha-1,6-glucan in some aspects can be about, at least about, or less than about, 1, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80. 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, 1-2000, 1-1000, 1-500, 1-400, 1-300, 1- 200, 1-100, 1-50, 5-300, 10-2000, 10-1000, 10-500, 10-400, 10-300, 10-200, 10-100, 10-50, 20-2000, 20-1000, 20-500, 20-400, 20-300, 20-200, 20-100, 20-50, 30-2000, 30- 1000, 30-500, 30-400, 30-300, 30-200, 30-100, 30-50, 40-2000, 40-1000, 40-500, 40-400, 40-300. 40-200, 40-100, 40-50, 50-2000, 50-1000, 50-500, 50-400, 50-300, 50-200, 100-2000, 100-1000, 100-500, 100-400, 100-300, 100-200, 200-2000, 20-1000, 200-500, 200-400, 200-300, 7.5-10, 7.5-12.5, 7.5-15, 7.5-20, 7.5-30, 10-12.5. 10-15, 10-20, 10-30, 15-25, 15-30, 40-60, 45-55, 190-210, or 290-310 kDa, for example. The molecular weight of alpha-1, 6-glucan (i.e., graft copolymer backbone) can be calculated, if desired, based on any of the foregoing alpha-1,6-glucan DPw, DPn, or DP values. Any of the forgoing DPw, DPn, DP, or Dalton values / ranges can characterize an alpha-1,6-glucan herein before, or after, it has optionally been branched (e.g., alpha-1,2 and / or alpha-1,3), for instance, before being used to produce a graft copolymer.

[0075] In some aspects, an alpha-1,6-glucan (dextran) for use as an alpha-glucan graft copolymer backbone herein can be produced in a suitable reaction comprising glucosyltransferase (GTF) 0768 (SEQ ID NO:1 or 2 of US2016 / 0122445), GTF 8117, GTF 6831, GTF 5604, GTF 1729, GTF 8845, or GTF 0088, or a GTF comprising an amino acid sequence that is at ieast 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to the amino acid sequence of GTF 0768, GTF 8117, GTF 6831, GTF 5604, GTF 1729, GTF 8845, or GTF 0088. GTF enzymes 8117, 6831 and 5604 are SEQ ID NOs:30, 32 and 33 (e.g., mature form of GTF 5604 begins at amino acid residue 37), respectively, of US2018 / 0282385. GTF enzymes 1729, 8845 and 0088 are SEQ ID NOs: 9, 11 and 12, respectively, of US2017 / 0218093. Suitable GTF reaction conditionsfor synthesizing an alpha- 1,6-glucan (dextran) herein can be as disclosed in U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2016 / 0122445, 2017 / 0218093, or 2018 / 0282385, for example, which are each incorporated herein by reference.

[0076] One or more alpha-glucan (alpha-1,3-glucan) side chains of an alpha-glucan copolymer in some aspects can comprise about, or at least about, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, or 100% alpha-1, 3 glycosidic linkages. In some aspects, accordingly, an alpha-glucan side chain has about, or less than about, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%. 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, or 0% glycosidic linkages that are not alpha-1,3. Typically, the glycosidic linkages that are not alpha-1,3 are mostly or entirely alpha-1,6. It should be understood that the higher the percentage of alpha-1,3 linkages present in a side chain, the greater the probability that the side chain is linear, since there are lower occurrences of certain linkages that might be part of branch points in the side chain. In some aspects, an alpha-glucan side chain has no branch points or less than about 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% branch points as a percent of the glycosidic linkages in the side chain.

[0077] The DPw, DPn, or DP of one or more alpha-glucan side chains in some aspects can be about, or at least about, 11, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, or 2000. DPw, DPn, or DP can optionally be expressed as a range between any two of these values. Merely as examples, the DPw, DPn, or DP of one or more alpha-glucan side chains in some aspects can be about 100- 1600, 200-1600, 300-1600, 400-1600, 500-1600, 600-1600, 700-1600, 100-1200, 200- 1200, 300-1200, 400-1200, 500-1200, 600-1200, 700-1200, 100-1000, 200-1000, 300-1000, 400-1000, 500-1000, 600-1000, 700-1000, 100-900, 200-900, 300-900, 400-900, 500-900, 600-900, 700-900, 1600-2000, 1600-1900, 1600-1800, 1700-2000, 1700-1900, 11-25, 12-25, 11-22, 12-22, 11-20, 12-20, 20-300, 20-200, 20-150, 20-100, 20-75, 30-300, 30-200, 30-150, 30-100, 30-75, 50-300, 50-200, 50-150, 50-100, 50-75, 75-300, 75-200, 75-150, 75-100, 100-300, 100-200, 100-150, 150-300, 150-200, or 200-300. In typical aspects in which a graft copolymer has a plurality of alpha-glucan side chains, the individual DP’s of the side chains are similar to each other (e.g., the DP’s vary by less than 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20%).

[0078] An alpha-glucan (alpha-1, 3-glucan) side chain in some aspects can be as disclosed (e.g., molecular weight, linkage profile, production method), for example, in U. S. Patent Nos. 7000000, 8871474, 10301604, or 10260053, or U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2019 / 0112456, 2019 / 0078062, 2019 / 0078063, 2019 / 0276806, 2018 / 0340199,2018 / 0021238, 2018 / 0273731, 2017 / 0002335, 2015 / 0232819, 2015 / 0064748, 2020 / 0165360, or 2019 / 0185893, which are each incorporated herein by reference.

[0079] In some aspects, alpha-glucan side chains from a dextran backbone can be linked to the dextran via alpha-1,2, -1,3, and / or -1,4 branches. Alpha-glucan side chains herein can be linked to about, at least about, or less than about, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 0.5-10%, 0.5- 7%, 0.5-5%, 0.5-3%, 1-10%, 1-7%, 1-5%, 1-3%, 2-10%, 2-7%, 2-5%, or 2-3% of the glucose units of a dextran backbone, for example, through one or more types of alpha- 1,2, -1,3, and / or -1,4 branch points. In some aspects, alpha-glucan side chains are linked to dextran through only one of these branch point types (e.g., alpha-1,3 or alpha-1,2).

[0080] The number of aipha-glucan side chains of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer herein can be, can be at least, or can be less than, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 100, 500, or 1000, for example. Typically, the number of side chains would depend, at least in part, on the size / Mw of the dextran primer / backbone used for alpha- 1,3-glucan synthesis.

[0081] An alpha-glucan graft copolymer herein (for providing a methyl ether derivative thereof) can comprise about 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 30-70, 35-65, 40-60, 45-55, or 48-52 wt% of a dextran backbone as disclosed herein; the balance up to 100 wt% can be with alpha-glucan side chain(s) as disclosed herein. For example, a graft copolymer can comprise about 30-70 wt% dextran backbone and about 30-70 wt% alpha-glucan side chains. As another example, a graft copolymer can comprise about 45-55 wt% (e.g., about 50 wt%) dextran backbone and about 45-55 wt% (e.g., about 50 wt%) alpha-glucan side chain(s). In some aspects, such weight percentages of the alpha-glucan graft copolymer can be based on the actual mass of the dextran entered into a priming / grafting reaction making the graft copolymer, and the mass of alpha-1,3-glucan predicted to have been produced based on the amount of sucrose used in the reaction and the percent sucrose converted to alpha-1,3-glucan (i.e., the one or more side chains) and fructose. Yet, in some aspects, a graft copolymer precursor can comprise about 10-30 wt% dextran backbone and about 70-90 wt% alpha-glucan side chain(s), or about 15-17 wt% dextran backbone and about 83-85 wt% alpha-glucan side chain(s).

[0082] A methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative (e.g., methyl alpha-1,3-glucan ether derivative) in some aspects can have a degree of substitution (DoS, total DoS) of about1.0 to 1.4 with methyl groups (i.e., a DoS of about 1.0 to 1.4 with methyl groups ether-linked to the alpha-glucan). In some aspects, the DoS with methyl can be about 1.0, 1.05, 1.1, 1.15, 1.2, 1.25, 1.3. 1.35, 1.4, 1.1-1.4, 1.2-1.4, 1.2-1.38, 1.2-1.36, 1.2-1.3, 1.22-1.4, 1.22-1.38, 1.22-1.36, 1.25-1.4, 1.25-1.35, or 1.3-1.4. Yet, in some aspects, DoS with methyl of a methyl alpha-glucan ether can be about 0.8-2.0. Typically, a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein is only substituted with methyl groups (no other types of substitutions exist), it would be understood that, since a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as presently disclosed has a DoS with methyl groups, ail the substituents of a glucan derivative cannot oniy be hydroxyl.

[0083] A methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative (e.g., methyl dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative) in some aspects can have a degree of substitution (DoS, total DoS) of at least about.5 with methyi groups (i.e., a DoS of at least about 1.5 with methyi groups ether-iinked to the aipha-glucan graft copolymer). In some aspects, DoS with methyl can be about, or at least about, 1.55, 1.6, 1.65, 1.7, 1.75, 1.5-2.0, 1.5-1.75, 1.55-1.75, 1.5-1.7, or 1.55-1.7. Yet, in some aspects, DoS with methyl of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer can be about, or at least about, 1.2, 1.25, 1.2-1.75, 1.2-1.7, 1.25-1.75, or 1.25-1.7.

[0084] In some alternative aspects, any methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein (e.g., methyl alpha- 1,3-glucan ether or methyl dextran-alpha-1.3-giucan graft copolymer ether) can instead be substituted with ethyl or propyl ether groups (i.e., replace “methyl" herein for “ethy!" or “propyl”, as appropriate). Any of the foregoing DoS values can characterize such alternative aspects, for example.

[0085] The present disclosure also concerns a method (process) of producing a methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan as disclosed herein (e.g., a methyl aipha-glucan ether derivative such as a methyl alpha-1,3-glucan ether or a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether). Such a method typically comprises:

[0086] (a) contacting an alpha-glucan herein (e.g., alpha-1,3-glucan or alpha-glucan graft copolymer) with at least one etherification agent comprising a methyl group (a methylation agent) (where the contacting is done under suitable reaction conditions for the etherification agent to etherify the alpha-glucan), wherein the methyl group is etherified to the alpha-glucan, thereby producing a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative, and

[0087] (b) (typically) isolating the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative produced in step (a), wherein the isolating step comprises washing the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivativeone or more times with (i) water or (ii) an aqueous liquid comprising at least 98 wt% water thereby providing washed solids, wherein the washed solids comprise less than about 0.5 wt% salt on a dry weight basis, optionally wherein the isolating step further comprises drying the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative following the washing.

[0088] A methyl alpha-giucan ether derivative as presently disclosed (e.g., a methyl alpha-1,3- glucan ether or a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether) can be as produced following such a method, for example. Step (a) can optionally be characterized as providing and / or performing a methyl etherification reaction or methylation reaction (or similar term).

[0089] Any of the features described herein regarding a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can characterize this derivatization method, as appropriate. Methodology parameters (e.g., incubation time, temperature, reagent e.g., solvent, pH modifier / buffer, catalyst], reagent concentration, alpha-glucan type, alpha-glucan concentration, and / or step order) for methyl ether-derivatizing an alpha-glucan can be any of those as disclosed in the below Examples, or can be within 5%-10% of any of those parameters, as appropriate.

[0090] An etherification reaction can be performed, for example, by first contacting an alpha-glucan herein with a solvent (e.g., water or alcohol) and one or more alkali hydroxides to provide a preparation (e.g., a solution in which alpha-glucan is dissolved in an alkali hydroxide solution, and / or a mixture in which alpha-glucan is partially or completely dispersed). The alkaline conditions of an etherification reaction can thus comprise an alkali hydroxide solution in some aspects. The pH of alkaline conditions can be about, or at least about, 10.0, 10.2, 10.4, 10.6, 10.8, 11.0, 11.2, 11.4, 11.6, 11.8, 12.0, 12.2, 12.4, 12.6, 12.8, 13.0, 10-12, 10-11.5, 10-11, 10.5-12, 10.5-11.5, or 11-12, for example. Various alkali hydroxides can be used, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and / or tetraethylammonium hydroxide. The concentration of alkali hydroxide in a preparation with an alpha-glucan herein and a solvent can be about 1-54 wt%, 5-50 wt%, 5-10 wt%, 10-50 wt%, 10-40 wt%, or 10-30 wt% (or any integer between 1 and 54 wt%), or any concentration used in the below Examples (or within ±10% thereof). The concentration of alkali hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide in some aspects can be at least about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 wt%. An alkali hydroxide used to prepare alkaline conditions may be in a completely aqueous solution or an aqueous solution comprising one or more water-soluble organic solventssuch as ethanol or isopropanol. Alternatively, an alkali hydroxide can be added as a solid to provide alkaline conditions.

[0091] Various organic solvents that can optionally be included in a solvent, or used as the main solvent, when preparing an etherification reaction include alcohol (e.g. isopropanol), acetone, dioxane, toluene, and ether (e.g. dimethyl ether), for example. An organic solvent can be added before or after addition of alkali hydroxide. The concentration of an organic solvent in a preparation comprising alpha-glucan and alkali hydroxide can be about, or at least about, 10, 15, 20. 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90 wt% (or any integer between 10 and 90 wt%), for example.

[0092] Alternatively, a solvent that can dissolve alpha-glucan herein can be used when preparing an etherification reaction. These solvents include, but are not limited to, lithium chloride(LiCl) / N,N-dimethyl-acetamide (DMAc), SO₂ / diethylamine (DEA) / dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), LiCI / 1,3-dimethy-2-imidazolidinone (DMI), N. N-dimethylformamide (DM F) / N2O4, DMSO / tetrabutyl-ammonium fluoride trihydrate (TBAF), N- methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO), Ni(tren)(OH)₂ [tren¼tris(2-aminoethyl)amine] aqueous solutions and melts of LiClO₄·3H₂O, NaOH / urea aqueous solutions, aqueous sodium hydroxide, aqueous potassium hydroxide, formic acid, and ionic liquids.

[0093] An etherification agent can be added to alkaline conditions comprising an alphaglucan herein, or it can be included when preparing the alkaline conditions (e.g., an etherification agent can be mixed with the alpha-glucan and solvent before dissolving / mixing with alkali agent). One or more etherification agents may be used in an etherification reaction.

[0094] In some aspects, an etherification reaction comprises little (about, or less than about, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 7, 8, 9, or 10 wt% or no solvent such as water. Such a process can optionally be referred to as high-solids etherification. High solids etherification can comprise any of the above ingredients, except that little or no solvent is used. This process can be performed according to Cationic Modification of Glucan Polymer in a High Solids Process (IP.com Disclosure No. IPCOM000256600D, Dec. 13, 2018), for example, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0095] A methyl etherification agent (methylation agent) herein can be a methyl halide, for example, such as methyl chloride. In some aspects, a methyl etherification agent can be dimethyl sulfate, dimethyl carbonate, iodomethane, methyl triflate, or methyl fluorosulfonate.

[0096] An etherification reaction herein can optionally be heated following the step of contacting alpha-glucan with an etherification agent under alkaline conditions. Thereaction temperatures and time of applying such temperatures can be varied within wide limits. For example, a reaction can optionally be maintained at ambient temperature for up to 14 days. Alternatively, a reaction can be heated, with or without reflux, between about 25 °C to about 200 °C (or any integer between 25 and 200 °C). Reaction time can be varied correspondingly; more time at a low temperature and less time at a high temperature.

[0097] In some aspects, all the components of an etherification reaction herein can be mixed together at the same time and brought to the desired reaction temperature (e.g., there is no staged addition of one or more of the reaction composition ingredients / components), whereupon the temperature is maintained with or without stirring until the desired alpha-glucan ether compound is formed. In some aspects, the mixed components can be left at ambient temperature as described above.

[0098] Following etherification, the pH of a reaction can be neutralized in some aspects. Neutralization of a reaction can be performed using one or more acids, for example. The term "neutral pH” as used herein, refers to a pH that is neither substantially acidic or basic (e.g., a pH of about 6-8, or about 6.0, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8, 7.0, 7.2, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, or 8.0). Various acids that can be used for this purpose include, but are not limited to, sulfuric, acetic, hydrochloric, nitric, any mineral (inorganic) acid, any organic acid, or any combination of these acids.

[0099] A methyl alpha-glucan ether produced in a methyl ether derivatization reaction herein can be Isolated / purified. In some aspects, such a methyl alpha-glucan ether product can first be precipitated from the aqueous conditions of a reaction. Precipitation (if applicable) and / or washing of a solid product (regardless of whether it was initially precipitated or not), can be performed by adding an excess amount (e.g., at least 2-3 times the volume of the etherification reaction volume) of an alcohol (e.g., 100% or 95% concentration) such as methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol to the reaction. A product (whether precipitated and / or simply washed by the foregoing treatment) can then be isolated using a filtration funnel, centrifuge, press filter, or any other method or equipment that allows for removal of liquids from solids.

[0100] Yet, isolation can comprise washing methyl alpha-glucan ether product (typically as a solid that has formed during step [a]) one or more times with (i) water or (ii) an aqueous liquid comprising at least 98 wt% (e.g., at least 98.5, 99.0, or 99.5 wt%) water. The temperature of the water or aqueous liquid can be at about, or at least about, 90, 95, 100, 90-95, 90-100, 90-105, 90-110, 95-100, 95-105, or 95-110 °C, for example (can optionally be characterized as being hot). Such washing can be with a product existingdirectly after etherification, or with a product as previously washed with an organic solvent-comprising liquid (e.g., above with alcohol), for example. Such washing typically is directed to solid methyl alpha-glucan ether material, and can be done with at least about 1, 2, or 3 displacements of water or aqueous liquid, for example, thereby providing washed solids. Washed solids can then be isolated using a filtration funnel, centrifuge, press filter, or any other method or equipment that allows for removal of liquids from solids. In some aspects, the washed product solids comprise less than about 0.5 wt% (e.g,, less than ~0,4 or ~0.3 wt%) salt (e.g,, NaCI) and / or other non-glucan ether product material on a dry weight basis (e.g., such as when this is the only type of washing applied).

[0101] Isolating can optionally further comprise drying the methyl alpha-glucan ether product following washing step(s). In some aspects, a dried product has less than about 5, 2.5, 1, or 0.5 wt% water. Drying can be done by any suitable means such as vacuum drying, air drying, or freeze drying, for example.

[0102] An alpha-glucan herein (e.g., alpha-1, 3-glucan or dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer) for derivatization typically is water-insoluble. A methyl ether derivative of either of these glucan precursors is typically water-soluble or has increased water solubility.

[0103] A methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative disclosed herein (e.g., methyl alpha-1, 3-glucan ether, or a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether such as a methyl dextran-alpha-1, 3-glucan graft copolymer ether) can be present in a composition / system, such as an aqueous composition / system or dry composition / system, at about, at least about, or less than about, 0.01, 0,05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.2, 1.25, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.75, 1.8, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5, 6. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.5, 99.9, 0.01-0.1, 0.01-0.08, 0.01-0.06, 0.01-0.05, 0.03-0.1, 0.03-0.08, 0.03-0.06, 0.03-0.05, 4-12, 4-10, 4- 8, 5-12, 5-10, 5-8, 6-12, 6-10, or 6-8 wt% or w / v%, for example, or a range between any two of these values. In some aspects, such as with an aqueous composition / product, the wt% or w / v% can be about 1-10, 1-5, 1-2.5, 1-2.25, 1.5-10, 1.5-5, 1.5-2.5, 1.5-2.25, 1.75-10, 1.75-5, 1.75-2.5, or 1.75-2.25 wt% or w / v%. The liquid component of an aqueous composition herein can be an aqueous fluid such as water or aqueous solution,for instance. The solvent of an aqueous solution typically is water, or can comprise about, or at least about, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 98, or 99 wt% water, for example. Reference herein to an aqueous composition or dry composition can also be with respect to an aqueous system or dry system, respectively, in some aspects, a composition / product herein can comprise, or be in the form of, a solution, dispersion (e.g., emulsion), mixture, wet cake or wet powder, or dry powder.

[0104] A solvent of a composition herein can, in some aspects, comprise water and at least about 40% (v / v or w / w) of one or more polar organic solvents, for example. In some aspects, a solvent comprises about, or at least about, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55. 56, 57, 58, 59, 60. 61, 62, 63, 64, 65. 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97. 40-90, 40-80. 40-70, 40-60, 50-90, 50-80, 50-70, 50-60, 60-90, 60-80, 60-70, 70-90, 70-80, 40-70, 40-60, 75-85, or 85-95 v / v% or w / w% of one or more polar organic solvents. The balance of a solvent typically is water only (e.g., a solvent with about 75 v / v% polar organic solvent has about 25 v / v% water), but can optionally comprise (e.g., less than 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 v / v%) one or more other liquids aside from a polar organic solvent. A solvent herein can optionally be characterized as an aqueous solvent given its having water. While a solvent herein typically comprises one type of polar organic solvent, two, three, or more polar organic solvents can optionally be included; in such aspects, the polar organic solvent concentration typically is that of the combination of the polar organic solvents.

[0105] A polar organic solvent in some aspects can be protic. Examples of protic polar organic solvents herein include an alcohol (e.g., methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, 1- propanol, tert-butyl alcohol, n-butanol, iso-butanol), methyl formamide and formamide. Additional examples of protic polar organic solvents herein include n-butanol, ethylene glycol, 2-methoxyethanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, glycerol, 1,2-propanediol, and 1,3-propanetriol.

[0106] A polar organic solvent in some aspects can be aprotic. Examples of aprotic polar organic solvents herein include acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, N, N- dimethylformamide, N. N-dimethylacetamide, tetrahydrofuran, propylene carbonate, and sulfolane. Additional examples of aprotic polar organic solvents herein include hexamethylphosphoramide, dimethylimidazolidinone (1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone), dioxane, nitromethane, and butanone. In general, ester, ketone and aldehyde solvents having no acidic hydrogen atom are other examples of aprotic polar organic solvents herein.An aqueous composition herein can have a viscosity of about, at least about, or less than about, 1, 5, 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, 10000, 15000, 1-300, 10-300, 25-300, 50-300, 1-250, 10-250, 25-250, 50-250, 1-200, 10-200, 25-200, 50-200, 1-150, 10-150, 25-150, 50-150, 1-100, 10-100, 25-100, or 50-100 centipoise (cps), far example. In some aspects, an aqueous composition herein (e.g., having dissolved therein a methyl alpha-glucan ether such as a methyl alpha-1, 3-glucan ether) can have a viscosity of about, or at least about, 30000, 40000, 50000, 30000-70000, 30000-60000, 40000-70000, 40000-60000, 50000-70000, or 50000-60000 mPa-s. In some aspects, an aqueous composition herein (e.g., having dissolved therein a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether such as a methyl dextran-alpha-1, 3-glucan graft copolymer ether) can have a viscosity of about, or at least about, 3000, 4000, 5000, 3000-7000, 3000-6000, 3000-5000, 4000-7000, or 4000-6000 mPa-s. Viscosity can be as measured with an aqueous composition herein at any temperature between about 3 °C to about 80 °C, for example (e.g., about 4-30 °C, 15-30 °C, 15-25 °C, 18-25 °C, 20°C). Viscosity typically is as measured at atmospheric pressure (about 760 torr) or a pressure that is +10% thereof. Viscosity can be measured using a viscometer or rheometer, for example, and can optionally be as measured at a shear rate (rotational shear rate) of about 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 0.1-500, 0.1-100, 1.0-500, 1.0-1000, or 1.0-100 s⁻¹ (1 / s), or about 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 200, or 250 rpm (revolutions per minute), for example. In some aspects, the viscosity of an aqueous composition is measured at a temperature of about 18-25C,C (e.g., -20 °C) and using a rotational shear rate of about 5 to 15 S'1(e.g., -10 s-’), and the concentration of the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative (e.g,, methyl alpha-1,3-glucan ether or dextran-alpha-1, 3-glucan graft copolymer ether) in the aqueous composition is about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% (e.g., -1.75-2.25 wt%, or -2 wt%).

[0107] An aqueous composition in some aspects comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can have one or more salts / buffers (e.g., Na*, Cl‘, NaCI, phosphate, tris, citrate) (e.g., ≤ 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 wt%) and / or a pH of about 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, 10.0, 10.5, 11.0, 11.5, 12.0, 12.5, 13.0, 13.5, 4.0-10.0, 4.0-9.0, 4.0-8.0, 5.0-10.0, 5.0-9.0, 5.0-8.0, 6.0-10.0, 6.0-9.0, 6.0-8.0, 9.0-13.5, 10.0-13.5, 10.5-13.5, 11.0-13.5, 9.0-13.0, 10.0-13.0, 10.5-13.0, or 11.0-13.0, for example. A methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein typically is uncharged (nonionic). This lack of charge of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can be as it exists when the ether derivative is in an aqueous composition herein, for example, further taking into accountthe pH of the aqueous composition (in some aspects, the pH can be 4-10 or 5-9, or any pH as disclosed above).

[0108] The temperature of a composition herein comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative (e.g., aqueous composition) can be about, or up to about, or less than about, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45. 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 10, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 0-160, 0-150, 0-140, 0-130, 0-120, 0- 110, 0-100, 0-90, 0-80, 0-70, 0-60, 10-160, 10-150, 10-140, 10-130, 10-120, 10-110, 10- 100, 10-90, 10-80, 10-70, 10-60, 50-80, 50-75, 50-70, 50-65, 55-80, 55-75, 55-70, 55- 65, 60-80, 60-75, 60-70, 60-65, 5-50, 15-25, 18-25, 20-25, 20-30, or 20-40 °C, for example.

[0109] A composition herein comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein can, in some aspects, be non-aqueous (e.g., a dry composition). Examples of such embodiments include powders, granules, microcapsules, flakes, or any other form of particulate matter. Other examples include larger compositions such as pellets, bars, kernels, beads, tablets, sticks, or other agglomerates, or ointment, lotion, or liquid (or any other form herein of a non-aqueous or dry composition). A non-aqueous or dry composition typically has about, or no more than about, 12, 10. 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25, 0.10, 0.05, or 0.01 wt% water comprised therein. In some aspects (e.g., those directed to laundry or dish washing detergents), a dry composition herein can be provided in a sachet, pouch, water-dispersible composition / carrier (e.g., fiber-containing composition such as a non-woven or other fibrous structure, a sponge or foam, an agglomerate, a sheet or tile), water-dissolvable composition / carrier (e.g., sheet or tile, fiber-containing composition such as a non-woven or other fibrous structure, a sponge or foam, an agglomerate), or any other suitable unit dose form.

[0110] A composition herein comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can, in some aspects, be a detergent composition. Examples of such compositions are disclosed herein as detergents for dishwashing and detergents for fabric care.

[0111] A composition herein comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can, in some aspects, comprise one or more salts such as a sodium salt (e.g., NaCl, Na₂SO₄). Other examples of salts include those having (i) an aluminum, ammonium, barium, calcium, chromium (II or I Si), copper (I or II), iron (Il or III), hydrogen, lead (II), lithium, magnesium, manganese (II or III), mercury (I or II), potassium, silver, sodium strontium, tin (II or IV), or zinc cation, and (ii) an acetate, borate, bromate, bromide, carbonate, chlorate, chloride, chlorite, chromate, cyanamide, cyanide, dichromate, dihydrogen phosphate, ferricyanide, ferrocyanide, fluoride, hydrogen carbonate, hydrogenphosphate, hydrogen sulfate, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen sulfite, hydride, hydroxide, hypochlorite, iodate, iodide, nitrate, nitride, nitrite, oxalate, oxide, perchlorate, permanganate, peroxide, phosphate, phosphide, phosphite, silicate, stannate, stannite, sulfate, sulfide, sulfite, tartrate, or thiocyanate anion. Thus, any salt having a cation from (i) above and an anion from (ii), as appropriate, above can be in a composition, for example. A salt can be present in an aqueous composition herein at a wt% of about, or at least about, .01, .025, .05, .075, .1, .25, .5, .75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, .01-3.5, .5-3.5, .5-2.5, or .5-1.5 wt% (such wt% values typically refer to the total concentration of one or more salts), for example. In some aspects, such as with respect to methyl alpha-glucan ether product solids isolated / purified herein (following an etherification step that produced the product), a composition can have less than about 0.5, 0,4, or 0.3 wt% of salt(s) (e.g., NaCI) on a dry weight basis.

[0112] A composition herein comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can optionally contain one or more enzymes (active enzymes). Examples of suitable enzymes include proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, peroxidases, lipolytic enzymes (e.g., metallolipolytic enzymes), xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases (e.g., arylesterase, polyesterase), perhydrolases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases, mannanases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases (e.g., choline oxidase), phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, beta-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, laccases, metalloproteinases, amadoriases, glucoamylases, arabinofuranosidases, phytases, isomerases, transferases, nucleases, and amylases. If an enzyme(s) is included, it can be comprised in a composition herein at about 0.0001-0.1 wt% (e.g., 0.01-0.03 wt%) active enzyme (e.g., calculated as pure enzyme protein), for example. In fabric care or automatic dishwashing applications, an enzyme (e.g., any of the above such as cellulase, protease, amylase, nuclease, and / or lipase) can be present in an aqueous composition in which a fabric or dish is treated (e.g., wash liquor, grey water) at a concentration that is minimally about 0.01-0.1 ppm total enzyme protein, or about 0.1-10 ppb total enzyme protein (e.g., less than 1 ppm), to maximally about 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 ppm total enzyme protein, for example.

[0113] A methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative and / or a composition comprising such a derivative is biodegradable in some aspects. Such biodegradability can be, for example, as determined by the Carbon Dioxide Evolution Test Method (OECD Guideline 301 B, incorporated herein by reference), to be about, at least about, or at most about, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%. 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%. 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%. 75%, 80%,85%, 90%, 5-60%, 5-80%. 5-90%, 40-70%, 50-70%, 60-70%, 40-75%, 50-75%, 60-75%, 70-75%, 40-80%, 50-80%, 60-80%, 70-80%, 40-85%, 50-85%, 60-85%, 70-85%, 40-90%, 50-90%, 60-90%, or 70-90%, or any value between 5% and 90%, after 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90 days of testing. It is contemplated that such biodegradability can be about, at least about, or at most about, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, 250%, 500%, 750%, or 1000% higher than the biodegradability of an incumbent material.

[0114] A composition / product comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein, such as an aqueous composition or a non-aqueous composition, can be in the form of a household care product, personal care product, industrial product, ingestible product (e.g., food product), medical product, or pharmaceutical product, for example, such as described in any of U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2018 / 0022834, 2018 / 0237816, 2018 / 0230241, 20180079832, 2016 / 0311935, 2016 / 0304629, 2015 / 0232785, 2015 / 0368594, 2015 / 0368595, 2016 / 0122445, 2019 / 0202942, or 2019 / 0309096, or International Patent Appl. Publ. No. WO2016 / 133734, which are all incorporated herein by reference. In some aspects, a composition can comprise at least one component / ingredient of a household care product, personal care product, industrial product, ingestible product (e.g., food product), medical product, or pharmaceutical product as disclosed in any of the foregoing publications and / or as presently disclosed.

[0115] A composition in some aspects is believed to be useful for providing one or more of the following physical properties to a personal care product, pharmaceutical product, household product, industrial product, medical product, or ingestible product (e.g., food product): thickening, freeze / thaw stability, lubricity, moisture retention and release, texture, consistency, shape retention, emulsification, binding, suspension, dispersion, gelation, absorption (e.g., aqueous liquid absorption), film or layer formation, for example.

[0116] Personal care products herein are not particularly limited and include, for example, skin care compositions, cosmetic compositions, antifungal compositions, and antibacterial compositions. Personal care products herein may be in the form of, for example, lotions, creams, foams, pastes, balms, ointments, pomades, gels, liquids, serums, combinations of these and the like. The personal care products disclosed herein can include at least one active ingredient, if desired. An active ingredient is generally recognized as an ingredient that causes an intended pharmacological effect.

[0117] A personal care product in some aspects can be a skin care product. A skin care product can be used on, and / or be designed for, general body application or targetedapplication (e.g., to hands or feet), for example. A skin care product in some aspects can be used on hair and / or nails (or exclusively for nails) in some aspects. In some aspects, a skin care product can be applied to skin for addressing skin damage related to a lack of moisture. A skin care product may also be used to address the visual appearance of skin (e.g., reduce the appearance of flaky, cracked, and / or red skin) and / or the tactile feel of the skin (e.g., reduce roughness and / or dryness of the skin while improved the softness and subtleness of the skin). A skin care product typically may include at least one active ingredient for the treatment or prevention of skin ailments, providing a cosmetic effect, or for providing a moisturizing benefit to skin, such as zinc oxide, petrolatum, white petrolatum, mineral oil, cod liver oil, lanolin, dimethicone, hard fat, vitamin A, allantoin, calamine, kaolin, glycerin, or colloidal oatmeal, and combinations of these. A skin care product may include one or more natural moisturizing factors such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, amino acids, cholesterol, fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, glycosphingolipids, urea, linoleic acid, glycosaminoglycans, mucopolysaccharide, sodium lactate, or sodium pyrrolidone carboxylate, for example. Other ingredients that may be included in a skin care product include, without limitation, glycerides, apricot kernel oil, canola oil, squalane, squalene, coconut oil, corn oil, jojoba oil, jojoba wax, lecithin, olive oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, shea butter, soybean oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, tea tree oil, shea butter, palm oil, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, wax esters, fatty acids, and orange oil. A skin care product can be an ointment, lotion, or sanitizer (e.g., hand sanitizer) in some aspects. A skin care product / formulation that can be adapted to be an aqueous composition herein can be as disclosed In, for example, US20100189669, US20200093799, US2008001 162, US20050002889, US20020039565, US20080213323, US20040022822, US20070166249, US20080152606, US20080008668, US20140256830, US20030206932, US20030114323,

[0118] US20110152335, US20150202139, US20040180026, US4595586, US4268526, US4272519, US4285967, US4368189, US4372944, US4699780, US4816271, US4839164, US4464362, US5552135, US5693255, US5976555, US5607921, US5618523, US5798108, US5356627, US5811083, US5939085, US6280714, US8465973, US9867774, US11110049, US10546658, US11033480, EP0321929, or WO2013092872, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. A skin care product can comprise one or more ingredients / additives as disclosed in any of the foregoing references, for example.A personal care product herein can also be in the form of makeup, lipstick, mascara, rouge, foundation, blush, eyeliner, lip liner, lip gloss, other cosmetics, sunscreen, sun block, nail polish, nail conditioner, bath gel, shower gel, body wash, face wash, lip balm, skin conditioner, cream, foam, cold cream, moisturizer, body spray, soap, body scrub, exfoliant, astringent, scruffing lotion, depilatory, permanent waving solution, antidandruff formulation, antiperspirant composition, deodorant, shaving product, pre-shaving product, after-shaving product, cleanser, skin gel, serum (skin serum), rinse, dentifrice composition, toothpaste, or mouthwash, for example. An example of a personal care product (e.g., a cleanser, soap, scrub, cosmetic) comprises a carrier or exfoliation agent (e.g., jojoba beads [jojoba ester beads]) (e.g.. about 1-10.

[0119] 3-7, 4-6, or 5 wt%); such an agent may optionally be dispersed within the product.

[0120] A personal care product in some aspects can be a hair care product. Examples of hair care products herein include shampoo, hair conditioner (leave-in or rinse-out), cream rinse, hair dye, hair coloring product, hair shine product, hair serum, hair anti-frizz product, hair split-end repair product, mousse, hair spray, and styling gel. A hair care product can be in the form of a liquid, paste, gel, cream, foam, solid, or powder in some embodiments. A hair care product as presently disclosed typically comprises one or more of the following ingredients, which are generally used to formulate hair care products: anionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylenelauryl ether sodium sulfate; cationic surfactants such as stearyltrimethylammonium chloride and / or distearyltrimethylammonium chloride; nonionic surfactants such as glyceryl monostearate, sorbitan monopalmitate and / or polyoxyethylenecetyl ether; wetting agents such as propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, pyroglutamic acid salts, amino acids and / or trimethylglycine; hydrocarbons such as liquid paraffins, petrolatum, solid paraffins, squalane and / or olefin oligomers; higher alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and / or cetyl alcohol; superfatting agents; antidandruff agents; disinfectants; anti-inflammatory agents; crude drugs; water-soluble polymers such as methyl cellulose, hydroxycellulose and / or partially deacetylated chitin; antiseptics such as paraben; ultra-violet light absorbers; pearling agents; pH adjustors; perfumes; and pigments.

[0121] An personal care product in some aspects can be a haircare composition such as a hair styling or hair setting composition (e.g., hair gel or lotion, hair mousse / foam, hair serum) (e.g., foam, creme, paste, non-runny gel, mousse, pomade, lacquer, hair wax). A hair styling / setting composition / formulation that can be adapted to be an aqueous composition herein can be as disclosed in, for example. US20090074697,WO1999048462, US20130068849, JPH0454116A, US5304368, AU667246B2, US5413775, US5441728, US5939058, JP2001302458A, US6346234, US20020085988, US7169380, US20090060858, US20090326151, US20160008257, W02020164769, or US20110217256, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. A hair care composition such as a hair styling / setting composition can comprise one or more ingredients / additives as disclosed in any of the foregoing references, and / or one or more of a fragrance / perfume, aroma therapy essence, herb, infusion, antimicrobial, stimulant (e.g., caffeine), essential oil, hair coloring, dying or tinting agent, anti-gray agent, antifoam agent, sunscreen / UV-blocker (e.g., benzophenone-4), vitamin, antioxidant, surfactant or other wetting agent, mica, silica, metal flakes or other glitter-effect material, conditioning agent (e.g., a volatile or non-volatile silicone fluid), anti-static agent, opacifier, detackifying agent, penetrant, preservative (e.g., phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, benzoate, diazolidinyl urea, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate), emollient (e.g., panthenol, isopropyl myristate), rheology-modifying or thickening polymer (e.g., acrylates / methacrylamide copolymer, polyacrylic acid [e.g., CARBOMER]), emulsified oil phase, petrolatum, fatty alcohols, diols and polyols, emulsifier (e.g., PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Oleth-20), humectant (e.g., glycerin, caprylyl glycol), silicone derivative, protein, amino acid (e.g., isoleucine), conditioner, chelant (e.g., EDTA), solvent (e.g., see below), monosaccharide (e.g., dextrose), disaccharide, oligosaccharide, pH-stabilizing compound (e.g., aminomethyl propanol), film former (e.g., acrylates / hydroxyester acrylate copolymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone / vinyl acetate copolymer, triethyl acetate), and / or any other suitable material herein. Optional hair fixing / styling agents herein include PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), octylacrylamide / acrylates / butylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, vinyl caprolactam / PVP / dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, AMPHOMER, or any film former such as listed above.

[0122] A hair styling / setting composition can comprise a solvent comprising water and optionally a water-miscible (typically polar) organic compound (e.g., liquid or gas) such as an alcohol (e.g., ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, iso-butanol, tert-butanol), an alkylene glycol alkyl ether, and / or a monoalkyl or dialkyl ether (e.g., dimethyl ether), for example. If an organic compound is included, it can constitute about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 60% by weight or volume of the solvent (balance is water), for example. The amount of solvent in a hair styling / setting composition herein can be about 50-90, 60-90, 70-90, 80-90, 50-95, 60-95, 70-95, 80-95, or 90-95 wt%, for example.A pharmaceutical product herein can be in the form of an emulsion, liquid, elixir, gel, suspension, solution, cream, foam, serum, or ointment, for example. Also, a pharmaceutical product herein can be in the form of any of the personal care products disclosed herein, such as an antibacterial or antifungal composition. A pharmaceutical product can further comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, and / or pharmaceutically acceptable salts. A composition herein can also be used in capsules, encapsulants, tablets, pills, tablet, 'pill / capsule coatings, and as an excipients for medicaments, drugs, or any other substance (e.g., vitamin, supplement, nutraceutical, probiotic, prebiotic, cosmetic enhancer) to be delivered into a patient or subject (human or animal) (enterally or parenterally).

[0123] A household care and / or industrial product herein can be in the form of drywall tape-joint compounds: mortars; grouts; cement plasters; spray plasters; cement stucco; adhesives; pastes; wall / ceiling texturizers; binders and processing aids for tape casting, extrusion forming, injection molding and ceramics; spray adherents and suspending / dispersing aids for pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; fabric care products such as fabric softeners and laundry detergents; hard surface cleaners; air fresheners; polymer emulsions; latex; gels such as water-based gels; surfactant solutions; paints such as water-based paints; protective coatings; adhesives; sealants and caulks; inks such as water-based ink; metal-working fluids; films or coatings; or emulsion-based metal cleaning fluids used in electroplating, phosphatizing, galvanizing and / or general metal cleaning operations, for example. In some aspects, a composition herein is comprised in a fluid as a viscosity modifier and / or friction reducer; such uses include downhole operations / fluids (e.g., in hydraulic fracturing and enhanced oil recovery).

[0124] Examples of ingestible products herein include a food, beverage, animal feed, a human or animal health and / or nutrition product, and / or pharmaceutical product. The intended use of a composition as presently disclosed in an ingestible product can be to provide texture, add volume, and / or thicken, or to serve as a coating, for example.

[0125] Further examples of using a composition of the present disclosure for ingestible products include use as: a bulking, binding and / or coating ingredient; a carrier for coloring agents, flavors / fragrances, and / or high intensity sweeteners; a spray drying adjunct; a bulking, bodying, dispersing and / or emulsification agent; and an ingredient for promoting moisture retention (humectant). Illustrative examples of products that can be prepared having a composition herein include food products, beverage products, pharmaceutical products, nutritional / nutraceutical products, and sports products.

[0126] Examples of beverage products herein include concentrated beverage mixes,carbonated beverages, non-carbonated beverages, fruit-flavored beverages, fruit juices, teas, coffee, milk nectars, powdered drinks, liquid concentrates, milk drinks, ready-to-drink (RTD) products, smoothies, alcoholic beverages, flavored waters and combinations thereof. Examples of food products herein include baked goods (e.g., breads), confectioneries, frozen dairy products, meats, artificial / synthetic / cultured meat, cereal products (e.g., breakfast cereals), dairy products (e.g., yogurt), condiments (e.g., mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise), snack bars, soups, dressings, mixes, prepared foods, baby foods, diet preparations, peanut butter, syrups, sweeteners, food coatings, pet food, animal feed, animal health and nutrition products, dried fruit, sauces, gravies, jams / jellies, dessert products, spreads, batters, breadings, spice mixes, frostings and the like. In some aspects, a composition herein can provide or enhance the foaming of beverages such as dairy beverages, non-dairy alternative beverages (e.g., "vegan" milk such as soy milk, almond milk, or coconut milk), dairy creamers, and / or non-dairy creamers (e.g., for a hot beverage such as coffee [e.g., cappuccino), tea [e.g., chai tea]).

[0127] In some aspects, a composition comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein can be in the form of a fabric care composition. A fabric care composition can be used for hand wash, machine wash and / or other purposes such as soaking and / or pretreatment of fabrics, for example. A fabric care composition may take the form of, for example, a laundry detergent; fabric conditioner; any wash-, rinse-, or dryer-added product; unit dose or spray. Fabric care compositions in a liquid form may be in the form of an aqueous composition. In other embodiments, a fabric care composition can be in a dry form such as a granular detergent or dryer-added fabric softener sheet. Other non-limiting examples of fabric care compositions can include: granular or powder-form all-purpose or heavy-duty washing agents; liquid, gel or pasteform all-purpose or heavy-duty washing agents; liquid or dry fine-fabric (e.g. delicates) detergents; cleaning auxiliaries such as bleach additives, "stain-stick”, or pre-treatments; substrate-laden products such as dry and wetted wipes, pads, or sponges; sprays and mists; water-soluble unit dose articles; water-dispersible unit dose articles (e.g., article comprising dispersible or dissolvable fiber, article comprising dispersible or dissolvable film). As further examples, a composition herein can be in the form of a liquid, a gel, a powder, a hydrocolloid, an aqueous solution, a granule, a tablet, a capsule, a bead or pastille, a single compartment sachet, a multi-compartment sachet, a single compartment pouch, a multi-compartment pouch, a tile, a film, or a sheet.A detergent composition herein may be in any useful form, e.g., as powders, granules, pastes, bars, unit dose (e.g., as described herein), or liquid. A liquid detergent may be aqueous, typically containing up to about 70 wt% of water and 0 wt% to about 30 wt% of organic solvent. It may also be in the form of a compact gel type containing only about 30 wt% water.

[0128] A detergent composition (e.g., of a fabric care product or any other product herein) typically comprises one or more surfactants, wherein the surfactant is selected from nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, semi-polar nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present at a level of from about 0.1% to about 60%, while in alternative embodiments the level is from about 1% to about 50%, while in still further embodiments the level is from about 5% to about 40%, by weight of the detergent composition. A detergent will usually contain 0 wt% to about 50 wt% of an anionic surfactant such as linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), alpha-olefinsulfonate (AOS), alkyl sulfate (fatty alcohol sulfate) (AS), alcohol ethoxysulfate (AEOS or AES), secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS), alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, or soap. In addition, a detergent composition may optionally contain 0 wt% to about 40 wt% of a nonionic surfactant such as alcohol ethoxylate (AEO or AE), carboxylated alcohol ethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylate, alkylpolyglycoside, alkyldimethylamineoxide, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide, fatty acid monoethanolamide, or polyhydroxy alkyl fatty acid amide (as described for example in WO92 / 06154, which is incorporated herein by reference). However, in some aspects, a detergent composition does not comprise a surfactant, or has less than 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.1, 0.05, or 0.025 wt% of a surfactant (such a “detergent composition" can optionally be referred to as a “composition”, “washing composition7', or “treating composition”, for example; any disclosure herein of a detergent composition does not necessarily need to comprise a surfactant in some aspects).

[0129] A detergent composition herein can optionally comprise one or more detergent builders or builder systems. In some aspects, oxidized alpha-1,3-glucan can be included as a co-builder; oxidized aipha-1,3-glucan compounds for use herein are disclosed in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2015 / 0259439, for example, which is incorporated herein by reference. In some aspects incorporating at least one builder, the cleaning compositions comprise at ieast about 1%, from about 3% to about 60%, or even from about 5% to about 40%, builder by weight of the composition. Examples of builders include alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates,alkali metal silicates, alkaline earth and alkali metal carbonates, aluminosilicates, polycarboxylate compounds, ether hydroxypolycarboxylates, copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether, 1,3,5-trihydroxy benzene-2.4,6-trisulphonic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of polyacetic acids such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, as well as polycarboxylates such as mellitic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, oxydisuccinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, and soluble salts thereof. Additional examples of a detergent builder or complexing agent include zeolite, diphosphate, triphosphate, phosphonate, citrate, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, soluble silicates or layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6 from Hoechst).

[0130] In some embodiments, builders form water-soluble hardness ion complexes (e.g., sequestering builders), such as citrates and polyphosphates (e.g., sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate hexahydrate, potassium tripolyphosphate, and mixed sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, etc.). It is contemplated that any suitable builder will find use in the present disclosure, including those known in the art (e.g., EP2100949).

[0131] In some embodiments, suitable builders can include phosphate builders and nonphosphate builders. In some embodiments, a builder is a phosphate builder. In some embodiments, a builder is a non-phosphate builder. A builder can be used in a level of from 0.1 % to 80%, or from 5% to 60%, or from 10% to 50%, by weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the product comprises a mixture of phosphate and non-phosphate builders. Suitable phosphate builders include mono-phosphates, di¬ phosphates, tri-polyphosphates or oligomeric-polyphosphates, including the alkali metal salts of these compounds, including the sodium salts. In some embodiments, a builder can be sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP). Additionally, the composition can comprise carbonate and / or citrate, preferably citrate that helps to achieve a neutral pH composition. Other suitable non-phosphate builders include homopolymers and copolymers of polycarboxylic acids and their partially or completely neutralized salts, monomeric polycarboxylic acids and hydroxycarboxylic acids and their salts. In some embodiments, salts of the above mentioned compounds include ammonium and / or alkali metal salts, i.e., lithium, sodium, and potassium salts, including sodium salts. Suitabie polycarboxylic acids include acyclic, alicyclic, hetero-cyclic and aromatic carboxylic acids, wherein in some embodiments, they can contain at least two carboxyl groupswhich are in each case separated from one another by, in some instances, no more than two carbon atoms.

[0132] A detergent composition herein can comprise at least one chelating agent.

[0133] Suitable chelating agents include, but are not limited to copper, iron and / or manganese chelating agents and mixtures thereof. In embodiments in which at least one chelating agent is used, the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 15%, or even from about 3.0% to about 10%, chelating agent by weight of the composition.

[0134] A detergent composition herein can comprise at least one deposition aid.

[0135] Suitable deposition aids include, but are not limited to, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polycarboxylate, soil release polymers such as polytelephthalic acid, clays such as kaolinite, montmorillonite, atapulgite, illite, bentonite, halloysite, and mixtures thereof.

[0136] A detergent composition herein can comprise one or more dye transfer inhibiting agents. Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof. Additional dye transfer inhibiting agents include manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles and / or mixtures thereof; chelating agents examples of which include ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA); diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonic acid (DTPMP); 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP); ethylenediamine N, N‘-disuccinic acid (EDDS); methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA); diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA); propylene diamine tetraacetic acid (PDTA); 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide (HPNO); or methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA); glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (N, N-dicarboxy methyl glutamic acid tetrasodium salt (GLDA); nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA); 4,5-dihydroxy-m-benzenedisulfonic acid; citric acid and any salts thereof; N~hydroxyethyl ethylenediaminetri-acetic acid (HEDTA), triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (TTHA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG), ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid (EDTP) and derivatives thereof, which can be used alone or in combination with any of the above. In embodiments in which at least one dye transfer inhibiting agent is used, a composition herein may comprise from about 0.0001% to about 10%, from about 0.01% to about 5%, or even from about 0.1% to about 3%, by weight of the composition.A detergent composition herein can comprise silicates. In some of these embodiments, sodium silicates (e.g., sodium disilicate, sodium metasilicate, and / or crystalline phyllosilicates) find use. In some embodiments, silicates are present at a level of from about 1 % to about 20% by weight of the composition. In some embodiments, silicates are present at a level of from about 5% to about 15% by weight of the composition,

[0137] A detergent composition herein can comprise dispersants. Suitable water-soluble organic materials include, but are not limited to the homo- or co~polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms.

[0138] A detergent composition herein may additionally comprise one or more enzymes as disclosed above, for example. In some aspects, a detergent composition can comprise one or more enzymes, each at a level from about 0.00001% to about 10% by weight of the composition and the balance of cleaning adjunct materials by weight of composition. In some other aspects, a detergent composition can also comprise each enzyme at a level of about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5%, by weight of the composition. Enzymes comprised in a detergent composition herein may be stabilized using conventional stabilizing agents, e.g., a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol; a sugar or sugar alcohol; lactic acid; boric acid or a boric acid derivative (e.g., an aromatic borate ester).

[0139] A detergent composition in some aspects may comprise one or more other types of polymer in addition to a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as disclosed herein. Examples of other types of polymers useful herein include carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), dextran, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic / acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacrylate / acrylic acid copolymers.

[0140] A detergent composition herein may contain a bleaching system. For example, a bleaching system can comprise an

[0141]

[0142] source such as perborate or percarbonate, which may be combined with a peracid-forming bleach activator such as tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) or nonanoyl oxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS).

[0143] Alternatively, a bleaching system may comprise peroxyacids (e.g., amide, imide, or sulfone type peroxyacids). Alternatively still, a bleaching system can be an enzymatic bleaching system comprising perhydrolase, for example, such as the system described in W02005 / 056783.A detergent composition herein may also contain conventional detergent ingredients such as fabric conditioners, clays, foam boosters, suds suppressors, anticorrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, anti-soii redeposition agents, dyes, bactericides, tarnish inhibitors, optical brighteners, or perfumes. The pH of a detergent composition herein (measured in aqueous solution at use concentration) is usually neutral or alkaline (e.g., pH of about 7.0 to about 11.0).

[0144] Examples of suitable anti-redeposition and / or clay soil removal agents for a fabric care product herein include polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactants, water-soluble copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acid with acrylic or methacrylic acid-ethylene oxide condensates (e.g., U. S. Patent No. 3719647), cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose (e.g., U. S. Patent Nos. 3597416 and 3523088), and mixtures comprising nonionic alkyl polyethoxy surfactant, poiyethoxy alkyl quaternary cationic surfactant and fatty amide surfactant (e.g., U. S. Patent No.

[0145] 4228044). Non-limiting examples of other suitable anti-redeposition and clay soil removal agents are disclosed in U. S. Patent Nos. 4597898 and 4891160, and International Patent Appl. Publ. No. WO95 / 32272, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0146] Particular forms of detergent compositions that can be adapted for purposes disclosed herein are disclosed in, for example, US20090209445A1, US20100081598A1, US20120052037A1, US7001878B2, EP1504994B1, W02001085888A2, W02003089562A1, W02009098659A1, W02009098660A1, WO2009112992A1, W02009124160A1, W02009152031 A1, W02010059483A1, W02010088112A1, WO2010090915A1, WO2010135238A1, WO2011094687A1, W02011094690A1, W02011127102A1, WO2011163428A1, W02008000567A1, W02006045391A1, W02006007911A1, W02012027404A1, EP1740690B1, WO2012059336A1, US6730646B1. W02008087426A1, WO2010116139A1, W02012104613A1, and W02012003360A2 all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0147] Laundry detergent compositions herein can optionally be heavy duty (all purpose) laundry detergent compositions. Exemplary heavy duty laundry detergent compositions comprise a detersive surfactant (1O%-4O% wt / wt), including an anionic detersive surfactant (selected from a group of linear or branched or random chain, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl sulphates, alkyl sulphonates, alkyl alkoxylated sulphate, alkyl phosphates, alkyl phosphonates, alkyl carboxylates, and / or mixtures thereof), and optionally non-ionic surfactant (selected from a group of linear or branched or random chain, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl alkoxylated alcohol, e.g.. C8-C18 alkylethoxylated alcohols and / or C6-C12 alkyl phenol alkoxylates), where the weight ratio of anionic detersive surfactant (with a hydrophilic index (H!c) of from 6.0 to 9) to non-ionic detersive surfactant is greater than 1:1. Suitable detersive surfactants also include cationic detersive surfactants (selected from a group of alkyl pyridinium compounds, alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, alkyl quaternary phosphonium compounds, alkyl ternary sulphonium compounds, and / or mixtures thereof); zwitterionic and / or amphoteric detersive surfactants (selected from a group of alkanolamine sulpho¬ betaines); ampholyfic surfactants; semi-polar non-ionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.

[0148] A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally include, a surfactancy boosting polymer consisting of amphiphilic alkoxyiated grease cleaning polymers (selected from a group of alkoxyiated polymers having branched hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, such as alkoxyiated polyalkylenimines in the range of 0.05 wt% - 10 wt%) and / or random graft polymers (typically comprising of hydrophilic backbone comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of: unsaturated C1-C6 carboxylic acids, ethers, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, sugar units, alkoxy units, maleic anhydride, saturated polyalcohols such as glycerol, and mixtures thereof; and hydrophobic side chain(s) selected from the group consisting of; C4-C25 alkyl group, polypropylene, polybutylene, vinyl ester of a saturated C1-C6 monocarboxylic acid, C1-C6 alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid, and mixtures thereof.

[0149] A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally include additional polymers such as soil release polymers (include anionically end-capped polyesters, for example SRP1, polymers comprising at least one monomer unit selected from saccharide, dicarboxylic acid, polyol and combinations thereof, in random or block configuration, ethylene terephthalate-based polymers and co-polymers thereof in random or block configuration, for example REPEL-O-TEX SF, SF-2 AND SRP6, TEXCARE SRA100, SRA300, SRN100, SRN170, SRN240, SRN300 AND SRN325, MARLOQUEST SL), anti-redeposition agent(s) herein (0.1 wt% to 10 wt%), include carboxylate polymers, such as polymers comprising at least one monomer selected from acrylic acid, maleic acid (or maleic anhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid, methylenemalonic acid, and any mixture thereof, vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer, and / or polyethylene glycol, molecular weight in the range of from 500 to 100,000 Da); and polymeric carboxylate (such as maleate / acrylate random copolymer or polyacrylate homopolymer).

[0150] A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally further include saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, preferably saturated orunsaturated C12-C24 fatty acids (0 wt% to 10 wt%); deposition aids (examples for which include polysaccha rides, celiulosic polymers, poly diallyl dimethyl ammonium halides (DADMAC), and co-polymers of DAD MAC with vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylamides, imidazoles, imidazolinium halides, and mixtures thereof, in random or block configuration, cationic guar gum, cationic starch, cationic polyacrylamides, and mixtures thereof.

[0151] A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally further Include dye transfer inhibiting agents, examples of which include manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles and / or mixtures thereof; chelating agents, examples of which include ethyiene-diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonic acid (DTPMP), 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), ethylenediamine N, N‘-disuccinic acid (EDDS), methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA), propylene diamine tetraacetic acid (PDTA), 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide (HPNO), or methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (N, N-dicarboxymethyl glutamic acid tetrasodium salt (GLDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), 4,5-dihydroxy-m-benzenedisulfonic acid, citric acid and any salts thereof, N-hydroxy ethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (TTHA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG), ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid (EDTP), and derivatives thereof.

[0152] A detergent herein such as a heavy duty laundry detergent composition may optionally include silicone or fatty-acid based suds suppressors; hueing dyes, calcium and magnesium cations, visual signaling ingredients, anti-foam (0.001 wt% to about 4.0 wt%), and / or a structurant / thickener (0.01 wt% to 5 wt%) selected from the group consisting of diglycerides and triglycerides, ethylene glycol distearate, microcrystalline cellulose, microfiber cellulose, biopolymers, xanthan gum, gellan gum, and mixtures thereof). A structurant can also be referred to as a structural agent.

[0153] A detergent herein can be in the form of a heavy duty dry / solid laundry detergent composition, for example. Such a detergent may include: (i) a detersive surfactant, such as any anionic detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any non-ionic detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any cationic detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any zwitterionic and / or amphoteric detersive surfactant disclosed herein, any ampholytic surfactant, any semi-polar non-ionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof; (ii) a builder, suchas any phosphate-free builder (e.g., zeolite builders in the range of 0 wt% to less than 10 wf%), any phosphate builder (e.g., sodium tri-polyphosphate in the range of 0 wt% to less than 10 wt%), citric acid, citrate salts and nitrilotriacetic acid, any silicate salt (e.g.. sodium or potassium silicate or sodium meta-silicate in the range of 0 wt% to less than 10 wt%); any carbonate salt (e.g., sodium carbonate and / or sodium bicarbonate in the range of 0 wt% to less than 80 wt%), and mixtures thereof; (iii) a bleaching agent, such as any photobleach (e.g., sulfonated zinc phthalocyanines, sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanines, xanthenes dyes, and mixtures thereof), any hydrophobic or hydrophilic bleach activator (e.g., dodecanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate, decanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate, decanoyl oxybenzoic acid or salts thereof. 3,5.5-trimethy hexanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate, tetraacetyl ethylene diamine-TAED, nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate-NOBS, nitrile quats, and mixtures thereof), any source of hydrogen peroxide (e.g., inorganic perhydrate salts, examples of which include mono or tetra hydrate sodium salt of perborate, percarbonate, persulfate, perphosphate, or persilicate), any preformed hydrophilic and / or hydrophobic peracids (e.g., percarboxylic acids and salts, percarbonic acids and salts, perimidic acids and salts, peroxy monosulf uric acids and salts, and mixtures thereof); and / or (iv) any other components such as a bleach catalyst (e.g., imine bleach boosters examples of which include iminium cations and polyions, iminium zwitterions, modified amines, modified amine oxides, N-sulphonyl imines, N-phosphonyl imines, N-acyl imines, thiadiazole dioxides, perfluoroimines, cyclic sugar ketones, and mixtures thereof), and a metal-containing bleach catalyst (e.g., copper, iron, titanium, ruthenium, tungsten, molybdenum, or manganese cations along with an auxiliary metal cations such as zinc or aluminum and a sequestrate such as EDTA, ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid).

[0154] A detergent herein such as that for fabric care (e.g., laundry) can be comprised in a unit dose (e.g., sachet or pouch, tile, film, sheet), for example. A unit dose form can comprise a water-soluble outer film that completely envelopes a liquid or solid detergent composition. A unit dose can comprise a single compartment, or at least two, three, or more (multiple) compartments, for example. Multiple compartments can be arranged in a superposed orientation or a side-by-side orientation. A unit dose in some aspects is a closed structure of any for / shape suitable for holding and protecting its contents without allowing contents release prior to contact with water. In some aspects, a unit dose can comprise water-dispersible fiber and / or water-dissolvable fiber. In some aspects, a unit dose can comprise water-dispersible film and / or water-dissolvable film. In some aspects, a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein is an ingredient fordelivery (e.g., into a laundry machine or any other suitable machine / device such as an automatic dishwasher) by a unit dose, and / or is a structural component of a unit dose (e.g., in non-woven fiber, typically of a non-woven web [e.g., of a tile or similar product]; in a film or coating [e.g., an outer film / membrane of a liquid- or solids-containing unit dose; or where a film itself constitutes a unit dose], or sheet), where the structural component is water-soluble and / or water-dispersible.

[0155] In some aspects, a composition comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein can be in the form of, or comprise, a fabric softener (liquid fabric softener). An example of such a composition is a rinse used in laundering a fabric-comprising material herein typically following cleaning of the fabric-comprising material with a laundry detergent composition (e.g., laundry rinse such as used in a laundry rinse cycle in a washing machine). The concentration of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative in a composition comprising fabric softener (e.g., a rinse) can be about, or at least about, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 20-80, 20-70, 20-60, 30-80, 30-70, 30-60, 40-80, 40-70, or 40-60 ppm, for example. The concentration of a fabric softener in a composition (e.g., a rinse) can be about, or at least about, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 50-600, 50-500, 50-400, 50-300, 50-200, 100-600, 100-500, 100-400, 100-300, 100-200, 10-600, 50-500, 50-400, 50-300, 50-200, 200-600, 200-500, 200-400, or 200-300 ppm, for example. Fabric softener concentration can be based on the total fabric softener composition added (not necessarily based on an individual component of the fabric softener), or based on one or more fabric softening agents(s) in the fabric softener formulation. A fabric softener herein can further comprise, for example, one or more of a fabric softening agent (e.g., diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride), anti-static agent, perfume, wetting agent, viscosity modifier (e.g., calcium chloride), pH buffer / buffering agent (e.g., formic acid), antimicrobial agent, anti-oxidant, radical scavenger (e.g., ammonium chloride), chelant / builder (e.g., diethylenetriamine pentaacetate), anti-foaming agent / lubricant (e.g., polydimethylsiloxane), preservative (e.g., benzisothiazolinone) and colorant. In some aspects, a fabric softener can further comprise one or more of a fabric softening agent, viscosity modifier, pH buffer / buffering agent, radical scavenger, chelant / builder and anti-foaming agent / lubricant. A fabric softener can be perfume-free and / or dye-free, or have less than about 0.1 wt% of a perfume and / or dye in some aspects. In some aspects, a fabric softener that can be adapted for use herein can be as disclosed in any of U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos.

[0156] 2014 / 0366282, 2001 / 0018410, 2006 / 0058214, 2021 / 0317384, or 2006 / 0014655, orlnt.Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. WO2007 / 078782, W01998 / 016538, WO1998 / 012293, W01998007920, W02000 / 070004, W02009 / 146981, WO2000 / 70005, or WO2013087366, which are incorporated herein by reference. Some brands of fabric softeners that can be adapted for use herein, if desired, include DOWNY, DOWNY ULTRA, DOWNY INFUSIONS, ALL, SNUGGLE, LENOR and GAIN. A liquid fabric softener product (e.g., as it exists before being used in a laundry rinse cycle) can be formulated to include one or more methyl alpha-glucan ether derivatives in some aspects. A fabric softener in some aspects can be in a unit dose, such as disclosed herein for a detergent / fabric care composition.

[0157] Compositions disclosed herein comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can be in the form of a dishwashing detergent composition, for example. Examples of dishwashing detergents include automatic dishwashing detergents (typically used in dishwasher machines) and hand-washing dish detergents. A dishwashing detergent composition can be in any dry or liquid / aqueous form as disclosed herein, for example. Components that may be included in some aspects of a dishwashing detergent composition include, for example, one or more of a phosphate; oxygen- or chlorine-based bleaching agent; non-ionic surfactant; alkaline salt (e.g., metasilicates, alkali metal hydroxides, sodium carbonate); any active enzyme disclosed herein; anti-corrosion agent (e.g., sodium silicate); anti-foaming agent; additives to slow down the removal of glaze and patterns from ceramics; perfume; anti-caking agent (in granular detergent); starch (in tablet-based detergents); gelling agent (in liquid / gel based detergents); and / or sand (powdered detergents).

[0158] Dishwashing detergents such as an automatic dishwasher detergent or liquid dishwashing detergent can comprise (i) a non-ionic surfactant, including any ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant, alcohol alkoxylated surfactant, epoxy-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol, or amine oxide surfactant present in an amount from 0 to 10 wt%; (ii) a builder, in the range of about 5-60 wt%, including any phosphate builder (e.g., mono¬ phosphates, di-phosphates, tri-polyphosphates, other oligomeric-polyphosphates, sodium tripolyphosphate-STPP), any phosphate-free builder (e.g., amino acid-based compounds including methyl-glycine-diacetic acid [MGDA] and salts or derivatives thereof, glutamic-N, N-diacetic acid [GLDA] and salts or derivatives thereof, iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and salts or derivatives thereof, carboxy methyl inulin and salts or derivatives thereof, nitrilotriacetic acid [NTA], diethylene triamine penta acetic acid [DTPA], B-alaninediacetic acid [B-ADA] and salts thereof), homopolymers andcopolymers of poly -carboxy lie acids and partially or completely neutralized salts thereof, monomeric polycarboxylic acids and hydroxycarboxylic acids and salts thereof in the range of 0.5 wt% to 50 wt%, or sulfonated / carboxylated polymers in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 50 wt%; (iii) a drying aid in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt% (e.g., polyesters, especially anionic polyesters, optionally together with further monomers with 3 to 6 functionalities - typically acid, alcohol or ester functionalities which are conducive to polycondensation, polycarbonate-, polyurethane- and / or polyurea- polyorganosiloxane compounds or precursor compounds thereof, particularly of the reactive cyclic carbonate and urea type); (iv) a silicate in the range from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% (e.g., sodium or potassium silicates such as sodium disilicate, sodium meta-silicate and crystalline phyllosilicates); (v) an inorganic bleach (e.g., perhydrate salts such as perborate, percarbonate, perphosphate, persulfate and persilicate salts) and / or an organic bleach (e.g., organic peroxyacids such as diacyl- and

[0159] tetraacyl peroxi des, especially diperoxydodecanedioic acid, diperoxytetradecanedioic acid, and diperoxyhexadecanedioic acid); (vi) a bleach activator (e.g., organic peracid precursors in the range from about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%) and / or bleach catalyst (e.g.. manganese triazacyclononane and related complexes; Co, Cu, Mn, and Fe bispyridylamine and related complexes; and pentamine acetate cobalt(ill) and related complexes); (vii) a metal care agent in the range from about 0.1 wt% to 5 wt% (e.g., benzatriazoles, metal salts and complexes, and / or silicates); (viii) a glass corrosion inhibitor in the range of about 0,1 wt% to 5 wt% (e.g., a salt and / or complex of magnesium, zinc, or bismuth); and / or (ix) any active enzyme disclosed herein in the range from about 0.01 to 5.0 mg of active enzyme per gram of automatic dishwashing detergent composition, and an enzyme stabilizer component (e.g,, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and inorganic divalent metal salts). In some aspects, a dishwashing detergent ingredient or entire composition (but adapted accordingly to comprise a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein) can be as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8575083 or 9796951, U. S. Pat. Appl. Publ. Nos. 2017 / 0044468 or 2025 / 0051690, or Int. Pat. Appl. Publ, No. W02023 / 111170, which are each incorporated herein by reference.

[0160] A detergent herein such as that for dish care can be comprised in a unit dose (e.g., sachet or pouch, tile, sheet, film) (e.g., water-soluble unit dose article, water- dispersible unit dose article), for example, and / or can be as described above for a fabric care detergent / com position, but rather comprise a suitable dish detergent composition.It is believed that numerous commercially available formulations / detergent formulations (which can be useful in household care, personal care, and / or industrial care spaces, e.g.) can be adapted to include at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as disclosed herein. Examples of commercially available detergent formulations include DIAL®, PERSIL®, PUREX®, PUREX® ULTRAPACKS, SCHWARZKOPF® (Henkel), BOTANICAL ORIGIN®, EASY-OFF®, FINISH®, FINISH® QUANTUM, RESOLVE®, WOOLITE® (Reckitt Benckiser), CLOROX™ 2 PACKS (Clorox), OXICLEAN, OXICLEAN MAX FORCE POWER PAKS (Church & Dwight), DOVE®, LUX®, PERSIL® (Unilever), AUSSIE®, HEAD & SHOULDERS®, COMET®, DAWN®, CASCADE®, CASCADE® ACTION PACS, TIDE®. TIDE® STAIN RELEASE, TIDE® PODS™, TIDE® EVO™, and GAIN® (Procter & Gamble).

[0161] Compositions disclosed herein comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can be in the form of an oral care composition, for example. Examples of oral care compositions herein include dentifrices, toothpaste, mouth wash, mouth rinse, chewing gum, and edible strips that provide some form of oral care or benefit (e.g., treatment or prevention of cavities [dental caries], gingivitis, plaque, tartar, and / or periodontal disease; breath freshening). An oral care composition can also be for treating an "oral surface”, which encompasses any soft or hard surface within the oral cavity, or of an oral device, including surfaces of the tongue, hard and soft palate, buccal mucosa, gums and dental surfaces. A "dental surface” herein is a surface of a natural tooth or a hard surface of artificial dentition including a crown, cap, filling, bridge, denture, or dental implant, for example.

[0162] Examples of oral care compositions to which at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative can be added are disclosed in U. S. Pat. Appl. Publ. Nos. 2006 / 0134025, 2002 / 0022006 and 2008 / 0057007, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0163] Additional examples of personal care, household care, and other products and ingredients herein can be any as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 8796196, which is incorporated herein by reference. Examples of personal care, household care, and other products and ingredients herein include perfumes, fragrances, air odor-reducing agents, insect repellents and insecticides, bubble-generating agents such as surfactants, pet deodorizers, pet insecticides, pet shampoos, disinfecting agents, hard surface (e.g., floor, tub / shower, sink, toilet bowl, door handle / panel, glass / window, car / automobile exterior or interior) treatment agents (e.g., cleaning, disinfecting, and / orcoating agents), wipes and other non-woven materials, colorants, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, emollients, oils, medicaments, flavors, and suspending agents.

[0164] A composition herein comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as presently disclosed can be a film or coating, for example. A film or coating can be a dried film or coating in some aspects, comprising less than about 3, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.1 wt% water, for example. In some aspects, a film or coating can comprise about 20- 40, 20-35, 20-30, 25-40, 25-35, or 25-30 wt% a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein, where the balance of material in the film or coating optionally is water, an aqueous solution, and / or a plasticizer. The amount a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as presently disclosed in a film or coating herein can be about, or at least about, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.5, 99.9, or 100 wt%, for example. A film or coating herein can be produced, for example, by providing a layer of an aqueous dispersion or solution of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative (e.g., about 5-30, 5-25, 5-20, 10-30, 10-25, or 10-20 wt% glucan ether) onto a surface / object / material, and then removing all of, or most of (> 90, 95, 98, 99 wt%), the water from the dispersion or solution, thereby producing a film or coating. Methodology similar to, or as disclosed in, U. S. Pat. Appl. Publ. No. 2018 / 0258590 (incorporated herein by reference) can be used to produce a film or coating, for example. The grammage of a coating comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein on a substrate can be about, or at least about, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1-12, 1-10, 1-8, 1-6, 1-5, 1-4, 1-3, or 1-2 gsm (grams per square meter), for example.

[0165] A film or coating herein can have a thickness of about, at least about, or up to about. 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2. 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 0.5-1.5, 0.8-1.5, 1.0-1.5, 0.5-1.4, 0.8-1.4, or 1.0-1.4 mil (1 mil = 0.001 inch), for instance. In some aspects, such thickness Is uniform, which can be characterized by having a contiguous area that (i) is at least 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% of the total film / coating area, and (ii) has a standard deviation of thickness of less than about 0.06, 0.05, or 0.04 mil. A film or coating herein can be characterized as thin (e.g., < 2 mil) in some aspects. A film herein is typically a cast film.A film or coating herein can exhibit various degrees of transparency as desired. For example, a film / coating can be highly transparent (e.g., high light transmission, and / or low haze). Optical transparency as used herein can, for example, refer to a film or coating allowing at least about 0-99% light transmission, or at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% light transmission, and / or less than 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 2.5%, 2%, or 1% haze. High optical transparency can optionally refer to a film / coating having at least about 90% light transmittance and / or a haziness of less than 10%. Light transmittance of a film / coating herein can be measured following test ASTM D1746 (2009, Standard Test Method for Transparency of Plastic Sheeting. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA), for example, which is incorporated herein by reference. Haze of a film / coating herein can be measured following test ASTM D1003-13 (2013, Standard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA), for example, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0166] A film or coating herein can optionaiiy further comprise a plasticizer such as glycerol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and / or polyethylene glycol. In some aspects, other film components (in addition to a composition herein) can be as disclosed in U. S. Patent. Appi. Publ. No. 2011 / 0151224, 2015 / 0191550, 20190153674, or 20210095155, or U. S. Patent No. 9688035 or 3345200, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0167] A film or coating, or any suitable solid composition herein (e.g., composite, fibers), in some aspects can further comprise at least one crosslinking agent. Methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative molecules of the present disclosure can be crosslinked (covalently) to each other and / or to at least one other component (e.g., polymer, active agent) of the composition, or to a component of a substrate if the composition is applied to the substrate. Yet, in some aspects, methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative molecules herein are not crosslinked in any manner, but one or more other components of the composition are crosslinked. Crosslinking can (i) enhance the tensiie strength of, and / or (ii) plasticize, a film or coating composition, for example. Crosslinking can link a film or coating to a substrate in some aspects. In some cases, a crosslinking agent such as a di- or poly-carboxylic acid, aldehyde, or polyphenol can be used to impart both plasticity and linking-to-substrate features. Suitable crosslinking agents for preparing a composition herein with crosslinking as above are contemplated to include phosphoryl chloride (POCl₃), polyphosphate, sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP), boron-containing compounds (e.g., boric acid, diborates, tetraborates such as tetraborate decahydrate.penta borates, polymeric compounds such as Polybor®, alkali borates), polyvalent metals (e.g., titanium-containing compounds such as titanium ammonium lactate, titanium triethanolamine, titanium acetylacetonate, or polyhydroxy complexes of titanium; zirconium-containing compounds such as zirconium lactate, zirconium carbonate, zirconium acetylacetonate, zirconium triethanolamine, zirconium diisopropylamine lactate, or polyhydroxy complexes of zirconium), glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, aldehyde, polyphenol, divinyl sulfone, epichlorohydrin, polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE), di- or poly-carboxylic acids (e.g., citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid), dichloro acetic acid, polyamines, 1,2,7,8-diepoxyoctane, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (diglyme), a diglycidyl ether (e.g., diglycidyl ether itself, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether [EGDGE], 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether [EDGE], polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether [PEGDE, such as PEG2000DGE], 1,6-hexanediol diglycidyl ether, neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether [BADGE]) and triglycidyl ether (e.g., tri methylol propane triglycidyl ether). Still other examples of suitable crosslinking agents are described in U. S. Patent Nos. 4462917, 4464270, 4477360 and 4799550, and U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2008 / 0112907, which are all incorporated herein by reference. Yet, In some aspects, a crosslinking agent is not a boron-containing compound (e.g., as described above). Methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative molecules herein can be crosslinked, such as with any crosslinker as presently disclosed, in other contexts besides a film or coating (e.g., in a dispersion / latex, fiber, composite, or other composition disclosed herein).

[0168] One or more conditioning agents can be comprised in a film or coating, for example, to enhance the haptics of the film or coating. A conditioning agent can be an anionic softener such as sulphated oil, soap, sulphated alcohol, and / or oil emulsion; a cationic softener such as a quaternary ammonium compound; a nonionic softener such as a polyoxyethylene derivative, polyethylene emulsion, wax emulsion, and / or silicon softener; natural fatty acid; oil; monoglyceride; diglyceride; polyglyceride; citric acid ester; lactic acid ester; and / or sugar ester such as a sucrose ester and / or sorbitan ester.

[0169] Also disclosed are articles comprising an adhesive, film, coating, or binder comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein in a dry form. Such articles (optionally, “coated articles") comprise a substrate having at least one surface on which is disposed / deposited the coating, adhesive, film, or binder, in a substantially continuous or discontinuous manner. In some aspects, an article comprises paper, leather, wood, metal, polymer, fibrous material, masonry, drywall, plaster, and / or an architectural surface. An “architectural surface” herein is an external or internal surface of a buildingor other man-made structure. In some aspects, an article comprises a porous substrate such as in paper, cardboard, paperboard, corrugated board, a cellulosic substrate, a textile, or leather. Yet, in some aspects, an article can comprise a polymer such as polyamide, polyolefin, polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), aramid, polyethylene sulfide (PES), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyimide (PI), polyethylene imine (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polysulfone (PS), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(cyclic olefins), poly(cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate), poly(trimethylene furandicarboxylate) (PTF), or cellophane. In some aspects, an article comprising a fibrous substrate is a fiber, yarn, fabric, fabric blend, textile, non-woven, paper, or carpet. A fibrous substrate can contain natural and / or synthetic fibers, such as cotton, cellulose, wool, silk, rayon, nylon, aramid, acetate, polyurethane urea, acrylic, jute, sisal, sea grass, coir, polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene, poiyaramid, or blends thereof.

[0170] A film, coating, or other composition (e.g., composite, fiber, dispersion / latex) in some aspects can comprise, along with a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein, one or more components as disclosed in U. S. Patent. Appl. Publ. No. 20190153674 or 20210095155, which are each incorporated herein by reference. For example, a film, coating, or other composition herein can comprise, optionally as a binder, one or more of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, partially saponified polyvinyl acetate, silanol-modified polyvinyl alcohol, butenediol vinyl alcohol co-polymer (BVOH), polyurethane, starch, corn dextrin, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose ethers, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, alginates, sodium alginate, xanthan, carrageenan, casein, soy protein, guar gums, synthetic polymers, styrene butadiene latex, and / or styrene acrylate latex. A composition for preparing a film, coating, or other composition in some aspects can comprise about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 65-85, 65-80, 70-85, or 70-80 wt% of a binder or compound such as polyvinyl alcohol (or any other of the above-referenced compounds), and about 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 15-35, 20-35, 15-30, or 20-30 wt% methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as presently disclosed. In some aspects, a composition for preparing a film, coating, or other composition can comprise a ratio of binder or compound (e.g., any of the above-referenced compounds such as polyvinyl alcohol or starch) to methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein of about 7:3, 7.5:2.5, 8:2, 8.5:1.5, or 9:1, based on the wt% of each of these components in the composition. In some aspects, a film, coating, or other composition does not comprise starch, while in otheraspects such as an oxygen barrier, starch can be included (e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2011 / 0135912 or U. S. Patent Nos. 5621026 or 6692801, which are incorporated herein by reference). Any of the foregoing film, coating, or other compositions can be in the form of a laminate or extruded product, for example, and that is optionally situated on any of the foregoing substrates.

[0171] A film, coating, or other composition (e.g., dispersion / latex, composite, fiber) comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein can further comprise polyurethane (e.g., any as disclosed herein) in some aspects. Such a composition can comprise about 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 35, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 5-60, 5-50, 5-45, 5-40, 5- 35, 5-30, 10-60, 10-50, 10-45, 10-40, 10-35, or 10-30 wt% of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein, for example; the balance can be comprised all or mostly of (e.g., be over 90% or 95% of) one or more polyurethanes. Such a composition can be wet (e.g., a dispersion of methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative and polyurethane) or dry (e.g., a masterbatch, film / coating, laminate, foam, or extruded composite of methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative and polyurethane). A polyurethane herein can be of a molecular weight that is about, or at least about, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 1000-3000, 1500-3000, 1000-2500, or 1500-2500, for example. Such a composition can, in some instances, be hydrolytically aged (e.g., exposed to 45-55 or ~50 °C, and / or 90-98% or -~95% relative humidity, for a period of 2-4 or 3 days). In some aspects, a polyurethane composition with a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein can be heat- and / or pressure-processable; application of heat and / or pressure for pressing, molding, extruding, or any other related processing step can be at about, or at least about, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 130, 140, 95-115, or 100-110 °C, and / or at a pressure of at least about 5000, 10000, 15000, 20000, or 25000 psi, for example. Such application of heat and / or pressure can be for a time of at least about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, or 30 minutes, for example. A pressed polyurethane composition in some aspects such as a film can be about, or at least about, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, or 100% transparent or translucent. In some aspects, any polyurethane composition presently disclosed can be made by a process that comprises providing an aqueous polyurethane dispersion, and mixing a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein with the polyurethane dispersion. The resulting aqueous composition can be used directly to make a composition (e.g., a film or coating), or it can be dried to a masterbatch that is then used to prepare a composition (e.g., by melt-processing).

[0172] A film or coating in some aspects can be in the form of an edible film or coating. Such a material can, in some aspects, comprise a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivativeherein and one or more components as described in U. S. Patent No. 4710228.

[0173] 4543370, 4820533, 4981707, 5470581, 5997918, 8206765, or 8999413, or U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2005 / 0214414, which are incorporated herein by reference. In some aspects, a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein replaces starch and / or starch derivatives in an edible film or coating, optionally as disclosed in any of the foregoing references. An edible film or coating can be on potato products (e.g., potato strips such as French fries), other vegetables or vegetable products (e.g., zucchini, squash, sweet potatoes, onions, okra, peppers, string beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bean sprouts, onions, any fresh cut version of a vegetable), mushrooms, fruits (e.g., berries such as raspberries, strawberries, or blue berries, avocados, kiwis, kumquats, oranges, tangerines, apples, pears, bananas, grapefruit, cherries, papaya, lemons, limes, mangos, peaches, cantaloupe, any fresh cut version of a fruit), and / or nuts (peanuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, filberts / hazel nuts, Brazil nuts, macadamias), for example. Any other food disclosed herein, as appropriate, can have an edible coating, for example. These and other food products having an edible film or coating herein can be fried or baked in some aspects, and / or the film or coating provides tenderness, moisture retention, protection from moisture, crispness, dietary fiber (in place of digestible starch), oxygen barrier, freshness, and / or anti-ripening. Anti-ripening in some aspects can be measured by the degree to which a coating lowers (e.g., by at least 25%, 50%, 75%, 80%, 85%, or 90%) the emission of a gaseous ripening hormone, such as ethylene, by a plant-based product (e.g., at 15-30, 15-25, or 20-25 °C), and / or by the degree to which plant product softening and / or sweetening is decreased by a coating. An edible coating in some aspects can be prepared by applying an aqueous dispersion or solution comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein (e.g., at 5-15, 5-12, 5-10, 7.5-15, 7.5-12, or 7.5-10 wt% in water) to a food product and drying the dispersion or solution (e.g., by air drying, forced air drying, vacuum drying, and / or heating).

[0174] A coating composition in some aspects, which can be used to prepare a coating herein, can comprise any of the foregoing components / ingredients / formulations. In some aspects, a coating composition is a latex composition, such as described below.

[0175] A composition herein comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as presently disclosed can be a latex composition in some aspects. Examples of latex compositions herein include paint (e.g., primer, finish ing / decorative), adhesives, films, coatings, and binders. Formulations and / or components (in addition to acomposition herein) of a latex composition herein can be as described in, for exam pie, U. S. Patent Nos. 6881782, 3440199, 3294709, 5312863, 4069186, or 6297296, or U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2020 / 0263026, which are all incorporated herein by reference.

[0176] A methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as presently disclosed can be present in a latex composition in any useful amount, such as at about, or at least about, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.05%, 0.06%, 0.07%, 0.08%, 0.09%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 0.01%-75%, 0.01%-5%, 5%-20%, 20%-50%, or 50%-75% based on the weight of all the dispersed solids of the latex.

[0177] A latex composition in some aspects can comprise a polymer polymerized from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer (e.g., monoethylenically unsaturated monomer); polyurethane; epoxy, and / or a rubber elastomer. Examples of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers herein include vinyl monomers, acrylic monomers, allylic monomers, acrylamide monomers, monocarboxylic unsaturated acids and dicarboxylic unsaturated acids.

[0178] Examples of suitable vinyl monomers of a polymer in a latex composition herein include any compound having vinyl functionality (i.e., ethylenic unsaturation) such as vinyl esters (e.g., vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl laurate, vinyl pivalate, vinyl nonanoate, vinyl decanoate, vinyl neodecanoate, vinyl butyrates, vinyl benzoates, vinyl isopropyl acetates), vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., styrene, methyl styrenes and similar lower alkyl styrenes, chlorostyrene, vinyl toluene, vinyl naphthalene, divinyl benzene), vinyl aliphatic hydrocarbons (e.g., vinyl chloride; vinylidene chloride; alpha olefins such as ethylene, propylene and isobutylene; conjugated dienes such as 1,3-butadiene, methyl-2-butadiene, 1,3-piperylene, 2,3-dimethyl butadiene, isoprene, cyclohexene, cyclopentadiene, and dicyclopentadiene) and vinyl alkyl ethers (e.g., methyl vinyl ether, isopropyl vinyl ether, n-butyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether), but excluding compounds having acrylic functionality (e.g., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, esters of such acids, acrylonitrile, acrylamides). In some aspects, a latex composition herein comprises a vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer, carboxylated vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer, and / or or polyvinyl acetate.

[0179] Examples of suitable acrylic monomers of a polymer in a latex composition herein include alkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, acrylate acids, methacrylate acids, aromatic derivatives of acrylic and methacrylic acid, acrylamides, and acrylonitrile. Typically, alkyl acrylate and methacrylic monomers (also referred to as alkyl esters of acrylic ormethacrylic acid) have an alkyl ester portion containing from 1 to about 18 carbon atoms per molecule, or from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms per molecule. Suitable acrylic monomers include, for example, methyl acrylate and methacrylate, ethyl acrylate and methacrylate, butyl acrylate and methacrylate, propyl acrylate and methacrylate, 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate and methacrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate and methacrylate, decyl acrylate and methacrylate, isodecyl acrylate and methacrylate, benzyl acrylate and methacrylate, isobornyl acrylate and methacrylate, neopentyl acrylate and methacrylate, and 1- adamantyl methacrylate. If acid functionality is desired, acids such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid can also be used.

[0180] A latex composition in some aspects comprises a polyurethane polymer.

[0181] Examples of suitable polyurethane polymers are those comprising polysaccharides as disclosed in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2019 / 0225737, which is incorporated herein by reference. A latex comprising a polyurethane can be prepared, for example, as disclosed in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2016 / 0347978, which is incorporated herein by reference, and / or comprise the reaction product of one or more polyisocyanates with one or more polyols. Useful polyols include polycarbonate polyols, polyester polyols and polyether polyols, for example. Polycarbonate polyurethane herein can be formed as the reaction product of a polyol such as 1,3-propanedioi, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanedioi, diethylene glycol, or tetraethylene glycol, with a diaryl carbonate such as diphenyl carbonate or phosgene. At least one poly isocyanate herein can be an aliphatic polyisocyanate, aromatic polyisocyanate, or polyisocyanate that has both aromatic and aliphatic groups. Examples of poly isocyanates include 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, mixtures of 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, bis(4-isocyanatocyclohexyl) methane, 1,3-bis(1- isocyanato-1-methylethyl)benzene, bis(4-isocyanatophenyl)methane, 2,4’-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 2,2'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 2,4-diisocyanatotoluene, bis(3-isocyanatophenyl)methane, 1,4-diisocyanatobenzene, 1,3-diisocyanato-o-xylene, 1,3-diisocyanato-p-xylene, 1,3-diisocyanato-m-xylene, 2,4- diisocyanato-1-chlorobenzene, 2, 4-diisocyanato-1 -nitrobenzene, 2,5~diisocyanato~l~ nitrobenzene, m-phenylene diisocyanate, hexa hydrotoluene diisocyanate, 1,5- naphthalene diisocyanate, 1-methoxy~2,4-phenylene diisocyanate, 4,4’-biphenylmethane diisocyanate, 4,4’-biphenylene diisocyanate, 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-diphenylmethane, diisocyanate, 3,3’-4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and 3,3'-dimethyldiphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate. Also useful herein are polyisocyanate homopolymers comprising allophanate, biuret, isocyanurate, iminooxadiazinedione, orcarbodiimide groups, for example. A poiyol herein can be any poiyo! comprising two or more hydroxy! groups, for example, a C2 to C12 alkane diol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, isomers of butane diol, pentane diol, hexane diol, heptane diol, octane diol, nonane diol, decane diol, undecane diol, dodecane diol, 2-methyl-1,3~propane dioi, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propane diol (neopentyl glycol), 1,4- bis(hydroxymethyl)cyciohexane, 1,2,3-propane triol (glycerol), 2-hydroxymethyl-2- methyi-1,3-propanol (trimethylolethane), 2-ethyl-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol (trimethylolpropane), 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propane diol (pentaerythritol); 1,4,6- octanetriol; chloropentanediol; glycerol monoalkyl ether; glycerol monoethyl ether; diethylene glycol; 1,3,6-hexanetriol; 2-methylpropanediol; 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, cyclohexanedimethanol, polymeric polyols, for exampie, poiyether poiyols or polyester polyols. In some aspects, a polyol herein can be poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol, polyethylene glycol, or poly 1,3-propane diol. A polyol in some aspects can be polyester polyol, such as one produced by transesterification of aliphatic diacids with aliphatic diols. Suitable aiiphatic diacids include, for exampie, C3 to C10 diacids, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimeiic acid, suberic acid, azelic acid, sebacic acid. In some aspects, aromatic and / or unsaturated diacids can be used to form a polyester polyol.

[0182] A latex composition in some aspects comprises an epoxy polymer / resin (poiyepoxide), such as bisphenol A epoxy resin, bisphenol F epoxy resin, Novolac epoxy resin, aliphatic epoxy resin, or glycidylamine epoxy resin.

[0183] A latex composition in some aspects comprises a rubber elastomer. In some aspects, a rubber elastomer can include one or more diene-based sulfur-vulcanizable elastomers having a glass transition temperature (Tg) below -30 °C, as determined, for example, by dynamic mechanical analysis. In further exampies, a rubber elastomer herein includes natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene rubber, styrene / butadiene copolymer rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber, neoprene, styrene / isoprene / butadiene terpolymer rubber, butadiene / acrylonitrile rubber, polyisoprene rubber, isoprene / butadiene copolymer rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene-acrylic rubber, butyl and halobutyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, fluoroelastomer, hydrocarbon rubber, polybutadiene, or silicone rubber.

[0184] The liquid component of a latex composition herein can be water or an aqueous solution. An aqueous solution of a latex in some aspects can comprise an organic solvent that is either miscible or immiscible with water. Suitable organic solvents hereininclude acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, butyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, diethyl ether, glycerol ethers, hexane, toluene, dimethyl acetamide, dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide.

[0185] A latex composition herein can further comprise one or more additives in some aspects. Examples of additives herein include dispersants, rheological aids, antifoams, foaming agents, adhesion promoters, flame retardants, bactericides, fungicides, preservatives, optical brighteners, fillers, anti-settling agents, coalescing agents, humectants, buffers, pigments / colorants (e.g., metallic oxides, synthetic organic pigments, carbon black), viscosity modifiers, antifreeze, surfactants, binders, crosslinking agents, anticorrosion agents, hardeners, pH regulators, salts, thickeners, plasticizers, stabilizers, extenders, and matting agents. Examples of pigments herein include titanium dioxide (TiO2), calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth, mica, hydrated aluminum oxide, barium sulfate, calcium silicate, clay, silica, talc, zinc oxide, aluminum silicate, nepheline syenite, and mixtures thereof. In some aspects, a latex composition is essentially free from (e.g., less than 1, 0.5, 0.1, or 0.01 wt% of component) starch, starch derivative (e.g., hydroxyalkyl starch), cellulose, and / or cellulose derivative (e.g., carboxymethyl cellulose).

[0186] A latex composition in the form of a paint or other coloring agent herein can have a pigment volume concentration (PVC) of about 3% to about 80% in some aspects. As examples, a flat paint can have a PVC in the range of about 55-80%, a primer or undercoat can have a PVC in the range of about 30-50%, and / or a gloss colored paint can have a PVC in the range of about 3-20%. A paint or other coloring agent in some aspects can have a PVC of about 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 55-80%, 55-75%, 55-70%, 60-80%, 60-75%, 60-70%, 63-67%, 64-66%, 65-80%, 65-75%, or 65-70%. A PVC value herein can be that of a particular pigment (or mix of pigments) such as those disclosed above (e.g., titanium dioxide), for instance.

[0187] A latex composition herein can be applied to the substrate of an article (above) using any method known in the art. Typically, after application of the latex composition, at least a portion of the liquid phase is removed, for example by drying, to provide an adhesive, film, coating, or binder comprising the latex composition in a dry or semi-dry form. Suitable application methods include air knife coating, rod coating, bar coating, wire bar coating, spray coating, brush coating, cast coating, flexible blade coating, gravure coating, jet applicator coating, short dwell coating, slide hopper coating, curtain coating, flexographic coating, size-press coating, reverse roll coating, and transfer rollcoating, A latex composition can be applied on at least a portion of a substrate, and can be in one or more coats / applications, for example.

[0188] Some aspects herein are drawn to a pigment-comprising composition. A pigment-comprising composition can be in a liquid form (e.g., an aqueous or nonaqueous composition herein) or solid form (e.g., a dry composition herein). Examples of a pigment-comprising composition herein include any of such compositions disclosed elsewhere herein (e.g., paint, primer, stain), ink, dye (e.g., food-coloring dye, fabric-coloring dye), resin, sunscreen, and cosmetics (e.g., mascara, blush, nail varnish / polish, lipstick, gloss, eyeliner, foundation, eye shadow, skin decoration composition). A pigment in a pigment-comprising composition can be any pigment herein, for example. Examples of a pigment for these and / or other aspects herein include oxides of titanium (e.g., titanium dioxide), zinc, iron, zirconium, cerium, and chromium; manganese violet; ultramarine blue; chromium hydrate; Prussian Blue; zinc sulfide; nitroso, nitro, azo, xanthene, quinoline, anthraquinone and / or phthalocyanine compounds; metal complex compounds; and isoindolinone, isoindoline, quinacridone, perinone, perylene, diketopyrrolopyrrole, thioindigo, dioxazine, triphenylmethane and / or quinophthalone compounds. Further pigment examples useful herein are disclosed in U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2006 / 0085924, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0189] A composition herein comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as presently disclosed can be in the form of a composite (e.g., rubber composite or polyurethane composite) such as disclosed in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos.

[0190] 2019 / 0225737, 2017 / 0362345, or 2020 / 0181370, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. It can optionally be stated that a composite as presently disclosed comprises at least one polymer in addition to a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative of the disclosure. One or more of the above components (e.g., a rubber or polyurethane) of a latex composition can optionally be an additional polymer in such a composite. An additional polymer of a composite herein can be rubber, polyurethane, thermoplastic polymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene copolymer, polyvinyl butyrate, polylactic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamide, polyether thermoplastic elastomer, polyester, polyether ester, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, starch, cellulose, or any suitable polymer as disclosed above for latex components.

[0191] Rubber in some aspects can be one or more of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, butadiene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-butadiene-isoprene terpolymer, ethylenepropylene diene monomer rubber, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber, silicone rubber, or neoprene, for instance. Examples of composites herein comprising rubber include tires (e.g., auto / bicycle; pneumatic tire; including tire treads and / or sidewalls), belts (e.g., conveyor belts, power transmission belts), hoses, gaskets, footwear (e.g., shoes, sneakers, boots; soles, cushioning, and / or aesthetic features), coatings, films, and adhesives. Rubber composites herein typically are vulcanized. It is contemplated that, in some aspects, inclusion of a composition herein in a composite comprising rubber can provide advantages such as lower cost, lower density, lower energy consumption during processing, and / or better or equal performance as compared to use of an incumbent filler such as carbon black or silica (e.g., increased wet traction, reduced rolling resistance, lighter weight, and / or mechanical strength); such performance enhancements can be with tires in some aspects. In some aspects, a composition herein replaces about, or at least about, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100 wt% of an incumbent filler (e.g., carbon black, or silica) that is typically used in a rubber composite such as a tire. It is noted that rubber composite tires currently on the market (that do not comprise a composition herein) typically comprise up to about 30 wt% of an incumbent filler such as carbon black. Thus, a rubber composite herein such as a tire can comprise about, or at least about, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 wt% a composition as presently disclosed, for example. A rubber composition herein can have a low minimum elastic torque (ML) (e.g., less than, or about, 0.10, 0.08, 0.06, 0.04, 0.03, or 0.02 dNm [deciNewton-meter]) in some aspects, and so a method of mixing a rubber composition during its preparation is disclosed.

[0192] A composition / product comprising a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as presently disclosed can be in the form of, or comprised within, a personal care product, household care product (household product), medical product, pharmaceutical product, or industrial product, for example. In some aspects, a composition / product herein (e.g., any of the foregoing) can be an absorbent or superabsorbent product. A personal care product, household care product, medical product, pharmaceutical product, or industrial product in some aspects is optionally designed, at least in part, for handling aqueous liquid absorption.

[0193] Examples of personal care products and / or uses thereof in aqueous liquid absorption include absorbent personal hygiene products such as baby diapers, potty training pants / liners, incontinence products (e.g., pads, adult diapers), and feminine hygiene products (e.g., sanitary napkins / pads, tampons, interlabial products, pantyliners). Thus, a personal care product in some aspects can be characterized as a personal care absorbent article that can be placed against or near the skin to absorb and contain a fluid discharged or emitted from the body. Examples of personal care products that can be adapted accordingly to take advantage of the absorbency of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative material herein (e.g., replace or supplement originally used absorbent material in a product) are disclosed in W01999 / 037261, U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2004 / 0167491, 2009 / 0204091, 2001 / 0014797, 2013 / 0281949, 2002 / 0087138, 2010 / 0241098, 2011 / 0137277 and 2007 / 0287971, and U. S. Patent Nos.

[0194] 4623339, 2627858, 3585998, 3964486, 6579273, 6183456, 5820619, 4846824, 4397644, 4079739, 8987543, 4781713, 5462539, 8912383, 3749094, 3322123, 4762521 and 5342343, all of which patent application and patent publications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0195] Examples of industrial products and / or uses thereof in aqueous liquid absorption include cable wrappings (e.g., wrappings for power or telecommunication cables); food pads (e.g., meat pads); agricultural and forestry applications such as for retaining water in soil and / or to release water to plant roots; fire-fighting devices; and cleanup of acidic or basic aqueous solutions spills. Examples of industrial products that can be adapted accordingly to take advantage of the absorbency of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative material herein are disclosed in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2002 / 0147483, 2006 / 0172048, 2005 / 0008737, 2008 / 0199577, 2012 / 0328723 and 2004 / 0074271, and U. S. Patent Nos. 5906952, 7567739, 5176930, 6695138, 4865855, 7459501, 5456733, 9089730, 5849210, 7670513, 7670513, 5683813, 5342543, 4840734 and 4894179, all of which patent application and patent publications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0196] Examples of medical products and / or uses thereof in aqueous liquid absorption include wound healing dressings such as bandages and surgical pads; hospital bedding; sanitary towels / pads; controlled drug release devices; cell immobilization islets; three-dimensional cell culture substrates; bioactive scaffolds for regenerative medicine; stomach bulking devices; and disposal of controlled drugs. Examples of medical products that can be adapted accordingly to take advantage of the absorbency of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative material herein are disclosed in WO1998 / 046159, U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2005 / 0256486, 2003 / 0070232 and 2004 / 0128764, and U. S. Patent Nos. 6191341, 7732657, 4925453, 9161860, 3187747 and 5701617, all of which patent application and patent publications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0197] An absorption method is presently disclosed that comprises, at least, contacting a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative material herein, or a product comprising suchmaterial, with an aqueous liquid-comprising composition, wherein the material / product absorbs aqueous liquid from the liquid-comprising composition. An aqueous liquidcomprising composition can be any as disclosed herein. For example, such a composition can be urine, blood, blood serum, liquid fecal matter, bile, stomach acid / juice, vomit, amniotic fluid, breast milk, cerebrospinal fluid, exudate, lymph, mucus, peritoneal fluid, pleural fluid, pus, rheum, saliva, sputum, synovial fluid, sweat, tears, water, or saline. In some aspects, an absorption method further comprises removing the material / product from the aqueous liquid-comprising composition after the material / product has absorbed aqueous liquid from the composition.

[0198] The present disclosure also concerns a method of treating a material. This method typically comprises contacting a material with an aqueous composition comprising at least one methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative as disclosed herein.

[0199] A material contacted with an aqueous composition in a contacting method herein can comprise a fabric in some aspects. A fabric herein can comprise natural fibers, synthetic fibers, semi-synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof. A semi-synthetic fiber herein is produced using naturally occurring material that has been chemically derivatized, an example of which is rayon. Non-limiting examples of fabric types herein include fabrics made of (I) cellulosic fibers such as cotton (e.g., broadcloth, canvas, chambray, chenille, chintz, corduroy, cretonne, damask, denim, flannel, gingham, jacquard, knit, matelasse, oxford, percale, poplin, plisse, sateen, seersucker, sheers, terry cloth, twill, velvet), rayon (e.g., viscose, modal, lyocell), linen, and Tencel®; (ii) proteinaceous fibers such as silk, wool and related mammalian fibers: (iii) synthetic fibers such as polyester, acrylic, nylon, and the like: (iv) long vegetable fibers from jute, flax, ramie, coir, kapok, sisal, henequen, abaca, hemp and sunn: and (v) any combination of a fabric of (i)-(iv). Fabric comprising a combination of fiber types (e.g., natural and synthetic) include those with both a cotton fiber and polyester, for example. Materials / articles containing one or more fabrics herein include, for example, clothing, curtains, drapes, upholstery, carpeting, bed linens, bath linens, tablecloths, sleeping bags, tents, car interiors, etc. Other materials comprising natural and / or synthetic fibers include, for example, non-woven fabrics, paddings, paper, and foams.

[0200] An aqueous composition that is contacted with a fabric can be, for example, a fabric care composition (e.g., laundry detergent, fabric softener). Thus, a treatment method in certain embodiments can be considered a fabric care method or laundry method if employing a fabric care composition therein. A fabric care composition hereinis contemplated to effect one or more of the following fabric care benefits (i.e., surface substantive effects): wrinkle removal, wrinkle reduction, wrinkle resistance, fabric wear reduction, fabric wear resistance, fabric pitting reduction, extended fabric life, fabric coior maintenance, fabric color fading reduction, reduced dye transfer, colorfastness, fabric color restoration, fabric soiling reduction, fabric soil release, fabric shape retention, fabric smoothness enhancement, anti-redeposition of soil on fabric, anti-greying of laundry, improved fabric hand / handle, and / or fabric shrinkage reduction.

[0201] Examples of conditions (e.g., time, temperature, wash / rinse volumes) for conducting a fabric care method or laundry method herein are disclosed in W01997 / 003161 and U. S. Patent Nos. 4794661, 4580421 and 5945394, which are incorporated herein by reference. In other examples, a material comprising fabric can be contacted with an aqueous composition herein: (i) for at least about 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, or 120 minutes; (ii) at a temperature of at least about 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95C'C (e.g., for laundry wash or rinse: a "cold” temperature of about 15-30 °C, a “warm” temperature of about 30-50 " C, a “hot” temperature of about 50-95 °C); (iii) at a pH of about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 (e.g., pH range of about 2-12, or about 3-11); (iv) at a salt (e.g., NaCI) concentration of at least about 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 wt%; or any combination of (i)-(iv).

[0202] The contacting step in a fabric care method or laundry method can comprise any of washing, soaking, and / or rinsing steps, for example. Contacting a material or fabric in still further embodiments can be performed by any means known in the art, such as dissolving, mixing, shaking, spraying, treating, immersing, flushing, pouring on or in, combining, painting, coating, applying, affixing to, and / or communicating an effective amount of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein with the fabric or material. In still further embodiments, contacting may be used to treat a fabric to provide a surface substantive effect. As used herein, the term “fabric hand” or “handle” refers to a person’s tactile sensory response towards fabric which may be physical, physiological, psychological, social or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the fabric hand may be measured using a PhabrOmeter® System for measuring relative hand value (available from Nu Cybertek, Inc. Davis, CA) (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists [AATCC test method “202-2012, Relative Hand Value of Textiles:

[0203] Instrumental Method"]).

[0204] In some aspects of treating a material comprising fabric, a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative component of the aqueous composition can adsorb to the fabric. Thisfeature is believed to render a methyi aipha-glucan ether derivative herein usefui as antiredeposition agents and / or anti-greying agents in fabric care compositions disclosed (in addition to their viscosity-modifying and / or builder effects). An anti-redeposition agent or anti-greying agent herein helps keep soil from redepositing onto clothing in wash water after the soil has been removed. It is further contemplated that adsorption of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein to a fabric enhances mechanical properties of the fabric in some aspects.

[0205] Adsorption of a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative to a fabric herein can be measured using a colorimetric technique (e.g., Dubois et al., 1956, Anal. Chem. 28:350- 356; Zemljic et al., 2006, Lenztnger Berichte 85:68-76; both incorporated herein by reference), for example, or any other method known in the art.

[0206] Other materials that can be contacted in the above treatment method include surfaces that can be treated with a dish detergent (e.g., automatic dishwashing detergent or hand dish detergent). Examples of such materials include surfaces of dishes, glasses, pots, pans, baking dishes, utensils and flatware made from ceramic material, china, metal, glass, plastic (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, melamine, etc.) and wood (collectively referred to herein as “tableware”). Thus, the treatment method in certain embodiments can be considered a dishwashing method or tableware washing method, for example. Other surfaces that can be contacted in a dishwashing method include those of internal dishwashing machine components such as of a washing chamber / compartment, piping / blades, pump(s), racks / holders, and sensors. Examples of conditions (e.g., time, temperature, wash volume) for conducting a dishwashing or tableware washing method herein are disclosed herein and in U. S. Patent No. 8575083 and U. S. Pat. Appl. Publ. No. 2017 / 0044468, which are incorporated herein by reference. In some aspects, a tableware article can be contacted with an aqueous composition herein under a suitable set of conditions such as any of those disclosed above with regard to contacting a fabric-comprising material.

[0207] Other materials that can be contacted in the above treatment method include oral surfaces such as any soft or hard surface within the oral cavity including surfaces of the tongue, hard and soft palate, buccal mucosa, gums and dental surfaces (e.g., natural tooth or a hard surface of artificial dentition such as a crown, cap, filling, bridge, denture, or dental implant). Thus, a treatment method in certain embodiments can be considered an oral care method or dental care method, for example. Conditions (e.g., time, temperature) for contacting an oral surface with an aqueous composition herein should be suitable for the intended purpose of making such contact. Other surfaces that can becontacted in a treatment method also include a surface of the Integumentary system such as skin, hair or nails.

[0208] Thus, some aspects of the present disclosure concern material (e.g., fabric, or a fiber-comprising product as disclosed herein) that comprises a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative herein. Such material can be produced following a material treatment method as disclosed herein, for example. A material may comprise a methyl alpha¬ glucan ether derivative in some aspects if the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative is adsorbed to, or otherwise in contact with, the surface of the material.

[0209] Some aspects of a method of treating a material herein further comprise a drying step, in which a material is dried after being contacted with the aqueous composition. A drying step can be performed directly after the contacting step, or following one or more additional steps that might follow the contacting step (e.g., drying of fabric or tableware after being rinsed, in water for example, following a wash in an aqueous composition herein). Drying can be performed by any of several means known in the art, such as air drying (e.g., ~ 20-25 °C), or at a temperature of at least about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 170, 175, 180, or 200 °C, for example. A material that has been dried herein typically has less than 3, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.1 wt% water comprised therein. Fabric is a preferred material for conducting an optional drying step.

[0210] An aqueous composition used in a treatment method herein can be any aqueous composition disclosed herein. Examples of aqueous compositions include detergents (e.g., laundry detergent or dish detergent), fabric softeners, and water-containing dentifrices such as toothpaste.

[0211] Non-limiting examples of compositions and methods disclosed herein include: 1. A composition (product) comprising at least one methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer (i.e., a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative), wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises:

[0212] (i) a backbone comprising dextran, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages

[0213] (ii) one or more alpha-glucan side chains, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and (iii) about 30-70 wt% of the backbone, and about 30-70 wt% of the one or more side chains,

[0214] wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer has a degree of substitution (DoS) of at least about 1.5 with a methyl group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer.2. The composition of embodiment 1. wherein at least about 75% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

[0215] 3. The composition of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least -95% or -100%) of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

[0216] 4. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, or 3, wherein the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the dextran is at least about 5000 Daltons (e.g., at least about 10000 or 20000 Daltons, or about 5000-300000 Daltons).

[0217] 5. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the Mw of the dextran is at least about 100000 Daltons (e.g., at least about 1 or 10 million Daltons).

[0218] 6. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least about 95%, 97.5%, or 99%, or about 100%) of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages.

[0219] 7. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein the weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of the one or more side chains is at least about 15 (e.g., at least about 50 or 100).

[0220] 8. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the DPw of the one or more side chains is at least about 400 (e.g., at least about 600, 700, or 800).

[0221] 9. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises about 35-65 wt% (e.g., -40-60, ~45-55, ~48-52, or -50 wt%) of the backbone, and about 35-65 wt% (e.g., -40-60, -45-55, -48-52, or -50 wt%) of the one or more side chains (in some alternative aspects, the alpha-glucan graft copolymer instead comprises about 10-30 wt% [e.g., -10-20, -10-17.5, -12.5-20, -12.5-17.5, -15- 18, -15-17, or -15 wt%) of the backbone, and about 70-90 wt% [e.g., -80-90, -82.5-90, -80-87.5, -82.5-87.5, -83-85, or -85 wt%] of the one or more side chains).

[0222] 10. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, wherein the DoS is at least about 1.55 (e.g., at least about 1.6).

[0223] 11. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, wherein the DoS is about 1.5 to 2.0 (e.g., 1.5-1.75, 1.55-1.75, 1.5-1.7, or 1.55-1.7) (in some alternative aspects, the DoS can instead be about 1.2, 1.25, or 1,2-1.75).

[0224] 12. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,, 8, 9, 10, or 11, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer is only substituted with the ether-linked methyl group (or there is less than 0.05, 0.025, or 0.01 DoS with another organic group).

[0225] 13. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative has a biodegradability asdetermined by a carban dioxide evolution test method of at least 10% (e.g., at ieast about 20% or 40%) after 15, 60, or 90 days.

[0226] 13a. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative is produced according to the method of embodiment 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, or 34.

[0227] 14. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 13a, wherein the composition is an aqueous composition,

[0228] 15. The composition of embodiment 14, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative is dissolved in the aqueous composition (i.e., it is an aqueous solution of the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative) (in some alternative aspects, the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative is instead dispersed in the aqueous composition, or is partly dispersed and partly dissolved in the aqueous composition).

[0229] 16. The composition of embodiment 14 or 15, wherein the viscosity of the aqueous composition is at least about 3000 mPa s (e.g., at least about 4000 or 5000 mPa-s) (e.g., about 3000-7000, 3000-6000, 3000-5000, 4000-7000, or 4000-6000 mPa s), typically wherein the viscosity is measured with the aqueous composition at a temperature of about 18-25 °C (e.g., ~20 °C) and a rotational shear rate of about 5 to 15 s (e.g., -10 s'1),

[0230] and typically wherein the concentration of the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative in the aqueous composition is about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% (e.g., -1.75-2.25 wt%, or -2 wt%).

[0231] 17. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13a, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the composition is a household care product (e.g., a fabric care product, a dish care product), personal care product, industrial product, medical product, ingestible product (e.g., food product), or pharmaceutical product.

[0232] 18. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13a, 14, 15, 16, or 17, further comprising at least one surfactant.

[0233] 19. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13a, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18, wherein the composition is in the form of, or comprised in, a liquid, gel, powder, hydrocolloid, granule, tablet, capsule, tile, sheet, film, wafer, bead or pastille, single-compartment sachet, multi-compartment sachet, single-compartment pouch, or multi-compartment pouch.

[0234] 20. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13a, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19, wherein the composition is in the form of, or comprised in, a water-dispersible unit dose (e.g., in the form of any of the forms / structures of embodiment 19, as appropriate, and / or a fiber-containing composition such as a non-woven or other fibrous structure, a sponge or foam, or an agglomerate) or a water-dissolvable unit dose (e.g., in the form of any of the forms / structures of embodiment 19, as appropriate, and / or a sheet or film, a fiber-containing composition such as a non-woven or other fibrous structure, a sponge or foam, or an agglomerate).

[0235] 21. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13a, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20, further comprising at least one enzyme,

[0236] 22. The composition of embodiment 21, wherein the enzyme is a cellulase, protease, amylase, lipase, or nuclease.

[0237] 23. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13a, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22, further comprising at least one of a complexing agent, soil release polymer, surfactancy-boosting polymer, bleaching agent, bleach activator, bleaching catalyst, fabric conditioner, clay, foam booster, suds suppressor, anti¬ corrosion agent, soil-suspending agent, anti-soil re-deposition agent, dye, bactericide, tarnish inhibitor, optical brightener, perfume, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, dye transfer-inhibiting agent, chelating agent, hueing dye, visual signaling ingredient, antifoam, structurant, thickener, anti-caking agent, starch, sand, or gelling agent.

[0238] 23a. The composition of any one of embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 1, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22, but instead wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative has the following feature(s):

[0239] the alpha-glucan graft copolymer has a DoS of about 0.005-2.0, 0.005-1.6, 0.005-1.5, 0.005-1.25, 0,005-1.0, 0,005-0.9, 0.005-0.8, 0.005-0.7, 0.005-0.6, 0.005-0.5, 0.005-0.25, 0.005-0.1, 0.01-2.0, 0.01-1.6, 0.01-1.5, 0.01-1.25, 0.01-1.0, 0.01-0.9, 0.01-0.8, 0.01-0.7, 0.01-0.6, 0.01-0.5, 0.01-0.25, 0.01-0.1, 0.05-2.0, 0.05-1.6, 0.05-1.5, 0.05-1.25, 0.05-1.0, 0.05-0.9, 0.05-0.8, 0.05-0.7, 0.05-0.6, 0.05-0.5, 0.1-2.0, 0.1-1.6, 0.1-1.5, 0.1-1.25, 0.1-1.0, 0.1-0.9, 0.1-0.8, 0.1-0.7, 0.1-0.6, 0.1-0.5, 0.2-2.0, 0.2-1.6, 0.2-1.5, 0.2-1.25, 0.2-1.0, 0.2-0.9, 0.2-0.8, 0.2-0.7, 0.2-0.6, or 0.2-0.5 with a methyl group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer (in typical aspects, the alpha-glucan graft copolymer is only subsituted with methyl groups [i.e., no other type of substitution group is present]) (e.g., the alpha-glucan graft copolymer has [i] a backbone of about 5-300 kDa or SO- 225 kDa, and [ii] a the alpha-glucan graft copolymer instead comprises about 10-30 wt% [e.g., -10-20. -10-17.5, -12.5-20, -12.5-17.5, -15-18, -15-17, or -15 wt%] of the backbone, and about 70-90 wt% [e.g., -80-90, -82.5-90, -80-87.5, -82.5-87.5, -83-85, or -85 wt%] of the one or more side chains; optionally wherein the alpha-glucan graftcopolymer has a DoS of about 0.005-1.25, 0.005-1.0, 0.005-0.8, 0.05-1.25, 0.05-1.0, or 0.05-0.8 [e.g., DoS <1.25 or <1.3]).

[0240] 24. A method (process) of producing a methyl ether derivative of an aipha-glucan graft copolymer (e.g,, as per any one of embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13) (i.e., a methyl aipha-giucan graft copolymer ether derivative), the method comprising:

[0241] (a) contacting an alpha-glucan graft copolymer with at least one etherification agent comprising a methyl group (a methylation agent) (where the contacting is done under suitable reaction conditions for the etherification agent to etherify the aipha-giucan graft copolymer), wherein the contacting is performed in a reaction composition with ingredients / components (e.g., at least water, alkali metal hydroxide [e.g., NaOH], organic solvent [e.g., dimethyl ether], methylation agent [e.g., methyi halide such as methyl chloride], alpha-glucan graft copolymer) that were brought together during a singie mixing step (e.g., there is no staged addition of one or more of the reaction composition ingredients / components), wherein the methyi group is etherified to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer, thereby producing a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises:

[0242] (i) a backbone comprising dextran, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages

[0243] (ii) one or more alpha-glucan side chains, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and (iii) about 30-70 wt% of the backbone, and about 30-70 wt% of the one or more side chains, and

[0244] (b) optionally isolating the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative produced in step (a), wherein the isolating comprises washing the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative (typically as a solid that has formed during step [a]) one or more times with (i) water or (ii) an aqueous liquid comprising at least 98 wt% (e.g., at least 98.5, 99.0, or 99.5 wt%) water (e.g., with at least about 1, 2, or 3 displacements of the water or aqueous liquid), thereby providing washed solids, wherein the washed solids optionally comprise less than about 0.5 wt% (e.g., less than -0.4 or -0.3 wt%) salt (e.g., NaCI) on a dry weight basis,

[0245] optionally further wherein the isolating further comprises drying (e.g., to provide solids with less than 5, 2.5, 1, or 0.5 wt% water) the methyl aipha-giucan graft copolymer ether derivative following the washing.25. The method of embodiment 24, wherein at least about 75% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

[0246] 26. The method of embodiment 24 or 25, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least -95% or -100%) of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

[0247] 27. The method of embodiment 24, 25, or 26, wherein the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the dextran is at least about 5000 Daltons (e.g., at least about 10000 or 20000 Daltons, or about 5000-300000 Daltons).

[0248] 28. The method of embodiment 24, 25, 26, or 27, wherein the Mw of the dextran is at least about 100000 Daltons (e.g., at least about 1 or 10 million Daltons).

[0249] 29. The method of embodiment 24, 25, 26, 27, or 28, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least about 95%, 97,5%, or 99%, or about 100%) of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages.

[0250] 30. The method of embodiment 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, or 29, wherein the weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of the one or more side chains is at least about 15 (e.g., at least about 50 or 100).

[0251] 31. The method of embodiment 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30, wherein the DPw of the one or more side chains is at least about 400 (e.g., at least about 600, 700, or 800). 32. The method of embodiment 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, or 31, wherein the alphaglucan graft copolymer comprises about 35-65 wt% (e.g., -40-60, -45-55, -48-52, or -50 wt%) of the backbone, and about 35-65 wt% (e.g., -40-60. -45-55, -48-52, or -50 wt%) of the one or more side chains.

[0252] 33. The method of embodiment 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, or 32, wherein the isolating step (b) is performed.

[0253] 34. The method of embodiment 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, or 33, wherein the water or aqueous liquid is at a temperature of at least about 90 °C (e.g., about, or at least about 95, 100, 90-95, 90-100, 90-105, 90-110, 95-100, 95-105, or 95-110 °C). 35. A method (process) for treating a substrate, the method comprising: (a) providing a composition according embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13a, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, or 23a, (b) contacting a substrate with the composition, and (c) optionally rinsing the substrate; optionally wherein the substrate is a textile, fabric, carpet, upholstery, apparel, tableware, or surface (e.g., hard surface).Non-limiting examples of compositions and methods disclosed herein include: 1. A composition (product) comprising at least one methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan (i.e., a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative),

[0254] wherein at least about 50% of the giycosidic linkages of the alpha-glucan are alpha-1,3 linkages,

[0255] wherein the weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of the alpha-glucan is at least about 300 or at least about 600, and

[0256] wherein the alpha-glucan has a degree of substitution (DoS) of about 1,0 to 1.4 (e,g., about 1.1-1.4) (or the DoS is about 0.8 to 2.0) with a methyl group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan.

[0257] 2. The composition of embodiment 1, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least about 95% or 97.5%) of the giycosidic linkages of the alpha-glucan are alpha-1,3 linkages.

[0258] 3. The composition of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein at least about 99% (e.g., about 100%) of the giycosidic linkages of the alpha-glucan are alpha-1,3 linkages,

[0259] 4. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, or 3, wherein the DPw is about 600 to 1600 (or up to 4000).

[0260] 5. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the DPw is about 600 to 1000 (e.g., about 600-900 or 700-1000).

[0261] 6. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the DPw is about 700 to 900 (e.g., about 750-850, or 800).

[0262] 7. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein the alpha-glucan is only substituted with the ether-linked methyl group (or there is less than 0.05, 0.025, or 0,01 DoS with another organic group).

[0263] 8. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the DoS is about 1.2 to 1.4 (e.g., about 1.2-1.38, 1.2-1.36, 1.22-1.4, 1.22-1.38, 1.22-1.36, 1.25-1.4, 1.3-1.4, or 1.2-1.3).

[0264] 9. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein the DoS is about 1.25 to 1.35.

[0265] 10. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative has a biodegradability as determined by a carbon dioxide evolution test method of at least 10% (e.g., at least about 20% or 40%) after 15, 60, or 90 days.10a. The composition of embodiment 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative is produced according to the method of embodiment 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. 31, or 32.

[0266] 11. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 10a, wherein the composition is an aqueous composition.

[0267] 1. The composition of embodiment 11, wherein the methyl alpha-giucan ether derivative is dissolved in the aqueous composition (i.e., it is an aqueous solution of the methyl alpha-giucan ether derivative) (in some alternative aspects, the methyl alpha- giucan graft copoiymer ether derivative is instead dispersed in the aqueous composition, or is partly dispersed and partly dissolved in the aqueous composition).

[0268] 13. The composition of embodiment 11 or 12, wherein the viscosity of the aqueous composition is at least about 30000 mPa-s (e.g., at least about 40000 or 50000 mPa-s) (e.g., about 30000-70000, 30000-60000, 40000-70000, 40000-60000, 50000-70000, or 50000-60000 mPa-s) (e.g., in some other aspects, the viscosity is at least about 4000, 6000, 8000, or 10000 mPa-s),

[0269] typically wherein the viscosity is measured with the aqueous composition at a temperature of about 18-25 °C (e.g., ~20 °C) and a rotational shear rate of about 5 to 15 S'1(e.g., -10 s‘1),

[0270] and typically wherein the concentration of the methyl alpha-giucan ether derivative in the aqueous composition is about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% (e.g., -1.75-2.25 wt%, or~2 wt%).

[0271] 14. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 12, or 13, wherein the composition is a household care product (e.g., a fabric care product, a dish care product), personal care product, industrial product, medical product, ingestible product (e.g., food product), or pharmaceutical product.

[0272] 15. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 12, 13, or 14, further comprising at least one surfactant.

[0273] 16. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, wherein the composition is in the form of, or comprised in, a liquid, gel, powder, hydrocolloid, granule, tablet, capsule, tile, sheet, film, wafer, bead or pastille, single¬ compartment sachet, multi-compartment sachet, single-compartment pouch, or multi¬ compartment pouch.

[0274] 17. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the composition is in the form of, or comprised in, a water-dispersible unit dose (e.g., in the form of any of the forms / structures of embodiment 16, as appropriate, and / or a fiber-containing composition such as a non-woven or other fibrousstructure, a sponge er foam, or an agglomerate) or a water-dissolvable unit dose (e.g., in the form of any of the forms / structures of embodiment 16, as appropriate, and / or a sheet or film, a fiber-containing composition such as a non-woven or other fibrous structure, a sponge or foam, or an agglomerate).

[0275] 18. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17, further comprising at least one enzyme.

[0276] 19. The composition of embodiment 18, wherein the enzyme is a cellulase, protease, amylase, lipase, or nuclease,

[0277] 20. The composition of embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19, further comprising at least one of a complexing agent, soil release polymer, surfactancy-boosting polymer, bleaching agent, bleach activator, bleaching catalyst, fabric conditioner, clay, foam booster, suds suppressor, anti-corrosion agent, soil-suspending agent, anti-soil re-deposition agent, dye, bactericide, tarnish inhibitor, optical brightener, perfume, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, dye transfer-inhibiting agent, chelating agent, hueing dye, visual signaling ingredient, anti-foam, structurant, thickener, anti-caking agent, starch, sand, or gelling agent.

[0278] 20a The composition of any of embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 1, 18, 19, or 20, but instead wherein the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative has the following features:

[0279] (i) the DPw of the alpha-glucan is about, or at least about, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 50-900, 100-900, 200-900, 300-900, 400- 900, 500-900, 600-900, 700-900, 1500-1900, 1500-1800, 1500-1700, 1600-2000, 1600- 1900, 1600-1800, 1600-1700, 1700-2000, or 1700-1900, and

[0280] (ii) the alpha-glucan has a DoS of about 0.005-2.0, 0.005-1.6, 0.005-1.5, 0.005-1.25, 0.005-1.0, 0.005-0.9, 0.005-0.8, 0.005-0.7, 0.005-0.6. 0.005-0.5, 0.005-0.25. 0.005-0.1.

[0281] 0.01-2.0, 0.01-1.6, 0.01-1.5, 0.01-1.25, 0.01-1.0, 0.01-0.9, 0.01-0.8, 0.01-0.7, 0.01-0.6, 0.01-0.5, 0.01-0.25, 0.01-0.1, 0.05-2.0, 0.05-1.6, 0.05-1.5, 0.05-1.25, 0.05-1.0, 0.05-0.9, 0.05-0.8, 0.05-0.7, 0.05-0.6, 0.05-0.5, 0.1-2.0, 0.1-1.6, 0.1-1.5, 0.1-1.25, 0.1-1.0, 0.1-0.9, 0.1-0.8, 0.1-0.7, 0.1-0.6, 0, 1-0.5, 0.2-2.0, 0.2-1.6, 0.2-1.5, 0.2-1.25, 0.2-1.0, 0.2-0.9, 0.2- 0.8, 0.2-0.7, 0.2-0.6, or 0.2-0.5 with a methyl group that is ether-linked to the alphaglucan (in typical aspects, the alpha-glucan is only subsituted with methyl groups [i.e., no other type of substitution group is present]) (e.g., the DPw of the alpha-glucan is about 600-900, 700-900, or 800, and the DoS is about 0.005-1.25, 0.005-1.0, 0.005-0.8, 0.05-1.25, 0.05-1.0, or 0.05-0.8; e.g., the DPw of the alpha-glucan is about 1500-1900,1500-1800, 1500-1700, or 1600, and the DoS is about 0.005-1.25, 0.005-1.0, 0.005-0.8, 0.05-1.25, 0.05-1.0, or 0.05-0.8; e.g., DoS <1.25 or <1.3).

[0282] 21. A method (process) for treating a substrate, the method comprising: (a) providing a composition according embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 20a, (b) contacting a substrate with the composition, and (c) optionally rinsing the substrate; optionally wherein the substrate is a textile, fabric, carpet, upholstery, apparel, tableware, or surface (e.g,, hard surface).

[0283] 22. A method (process) of producing a methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan (e.g., as per any of embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10) (i.e., a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative), the method comprising:

[0284] (a) contacting an alpha-glucan with at least one etherification agent comprising a methyl group (a methylation agent) (where the contacting is done under suitable reaction conditions for the etherification agent to etherify the alpha-glucan), wherein the methyl group is etherified to the alpha-glucan, thereby producing a methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative,

[0285] wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the alpha-glucan are alpha-1,3 linkages,

[0286] wherein the weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of the alpha-glucan is at least about 300 or at least about 600, and

[0287] (b) isolating the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative produced in step (a), wherein the isolating comprises washing the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative (typically as a solid that has formed during step [a]) one or more times with (i) water or (ii) an aqueous liquid comprising at least 98 wt% (e.g., at least 98.5, 99.0, or 99.5 wt%) water (e.g., with at least about 1, 2, or 3 displacements of the water or aqueous liquid), thereby providing washed solids, wherein the washed solids optionally comprise less than about 0.5 wt% (e.g., less than ~0.4 or ~0.3 wt%) salt (e.g., NaCl) on a dry weight basis,

[0288] optionally wherein the isolating further comprises drying (e.g., to provide solids with less than 5, 2.5, 1, or 0.5 wt% water) the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative following the washing.

[0289] 23. The method of embodiment 22, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least about 95% or 97.5%) of the glycosidic linkages of the alpha-glucan are alpha-1,3 linkages. 24. The method of embodiment 22 or 23, wherein at least about 99% (e.g., about 100%) of the glycosidic linkages of the alpha-glucan are alpha-1,3 linkages.

[0290] 25. The method of embodiment 22, 23, or 24, wherein the DPw is about 600 to about 1600.26. The method of embodiment 22, 23, 24, or 25, wherein the DPw is about 600 to about 1000 (e.g., about 600-900 or 700-1000).

[0291] 27. The method of embodiment 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26, wherein the DPw is about 700 to about 900 (e.g., about 700-900, 750-850, or 800).

[0292] 28. The method of embodiment 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative is only substituted with the ether-linked methyl group (or there is less than 0.05, 0.025, or 0.01 DoS with another organic group).

[0293] 29. The method of embodiment 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, or 28, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan ether derivative has a degree of substitution (DoS) of about 1.0 to about 1.4 (e.g., about 1.1 -1.4) with the methyl group (or the DoS is about 0.8 to 2.0 with the methyl group).

[0294] 30. The method of embodiment 29, wherein the DoS is about 1.2 to about 1.4 (e.g., about 1.2-1.38, 1.2-1.36, 1.22-1.4, 1.22-1.38, 1.22-1.36, 1.25-1.4, 1.3-1.4, or 1.2-1.3).

[0295] 31. The method of embodiment 29 or 30, wherein the DoS is about 1.25 to about 1.35.

[0296] 32. The method of embodiment 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, or 31, wherein the water or aqueous liquid is at a temperature of at least about 90 °C (e.g., about, or at least about 95, 100, 90-95, 90-100, 90-105, 90-110, 95-100, 95-105, or 95-110 °C). 33. A composition (product) comprising at least one methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer (i.e., a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative), wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises:

[0297] (i) a backbone comprising dextran, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages

[0298] (ii) one or more alpha-glucan side chains, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and (iii) about 30-70 wt% of the backbone, and about 30-70 wt% of the one or more side chains,

[0299] wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer has a degree of substitution (DoS) of at least about 1.5 with a methyl group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer.

[0300] 34. The composition of embodiment 33, wherein at least about 75% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

[0301] 35. The composition of embodiment 33 or 34, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least -95% or -100%) of the giycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.36. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, or 35, wherein the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the dextran is at ieast about 5000 Daltons (e.g., at least about 10000 or 20000 Daltons, or about 5000-300000 Daltons).

[0302] 37. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, or 36, wherein the Mw of the dextran is at least about 100000 Daltons (e.g., at least about 1 or 10 million Daltons).

[0303] 38. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, or 37, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least about 95%, 97.5%, or 99%, or about 100%) of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages.

[0304] 39. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, or 38, wherein the weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of the one or more side chains is at least about 15 (e.g., at least about 50 or 100).

[0305] 40. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, or 39, wherein the DPw of the one or more side chains is at least about 400 (e.g., at least about 600, 700, or 800).

[0306] 41. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises about 35-65 wt% (e.g,, -40-60, -45-55, -48-52, or -50 wt%) of the backbone, and about 35-65 wt% (e.g., -40-60, -45-55, -48-52, or -50 wt%) of the one or more side chains (in some alternative aspects, the alpha-glucan graft copolymer instead comprises about 10-30 wt% [e.g., -10-20, -10-17.5, -12.5-20, -12.5-17.5, -15-18, -15-17, or -15 wt%] of the backbone, and about 70-90 wt% [e.g., -80-90, -82.5-90, -80-87.5, -82.5-87.5, -83-85, or -85 wt%] of the one or more side chains).

[0307] 42. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, or 41, wherein the DoS is at least about 1.55 (e.g., at least about 1.6),

[0308] 43. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, or 42, wherein the DoS is about 1.5 to 2.0 (e.g., 1.5-1.75, 1.55-1.75, 1.5-1.7, or 1.55-1.7) (in some alternative aspects, the DoS can instead be about 1.2, 1.25, or 1.2-1.75).

[0309] 44. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, or 43, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer is only substituted with the ether~l inked methyl group (or there is less than 0.05, 0.025, or 0.01 DoS with another organic group), 45. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, or 44, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative has a biodegradability as determined by a carbon dioxide evolution test method of at least 10% (e.g., at least about 20% or 40%) after 15, 60, or 90 days.45a. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41. 42, 43, 44, or 45. wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative is produced according to the method of embodiment 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, or 66. 46. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, or 45a, wherein the composition is an aqueous composition.

[0310] 47. The composition of embodiment 46, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative is dissolved in the aqueous composition (i.e., it is an aqueous solution of the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative) (in some alternative aspects, the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative is instead dispersed in the aqueous composition, or is partly dispersed and partly dissolved in the aqueous composition).

[0311] 48. The composition of embodiment 46 or 47, wherein the viscosity of the aqueous composition is at least about 3000 mPa·s (e.g., at least about 4000 or 5000 mPa·s) (e.g., about 3000-7000, 3000-6000, 3000-5000, 4000-7000, or 4000-6000 mPa·s), typically wherein the viscosity is measured with the aqueous composition at a temperature of about 18-25 °C (e.g., -20 °C) and a rotational shear rate of about 5 to 15 S'1(e.g., -10 s’1),

[0312] and typically wherein the concentration of the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative in the aqueous composition is about 1.5 to 2.5 wt% (e.g., -1.75-2.25 wt%, or -2 wt%).

[0313] 49. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 45a, 46, 47, or 48, wherein the composition is a household care product (e.g., a fabric care product, a dish care product), personal care product, industrial product, medical product, ingestible product (e.g., food product), or pharmaceutical product,

[0314] 50. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 45a, 46, 47, 48, or 49, further comprising at least one surfactant.

[0315] 51. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 45a, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50, wherein the composition is in the form of, or comprised in, a liquid, gel, powder, hydrocolloid, granule, tablet, capsule, tile, sheet, film, wafer, bead or pastille, single-compartment sachet, multi-compartment sachet, single-compartment pouch, or multi-compartment pouch.

[0316] 52. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 45a, 46. 47, 48, 49, 50, or 51, wherein the composition is in the form of, or comprised in, a water-dispersible unit dose (e.g., in the form of any of the forms / structures of embodiment 51, as appropriate, and / or a fiber-containing composition such as a non-woven or other fibrous structure, a sponge or foam, or an agglomerate) or a water-dissolvable unit dose (e.g., in the form of any of the forms / structures of embodiment 51, as appropriate, and / or a sheet or film, a fiber-containing composition such as a non-woven or other fibrous structure, a sponge or foam, or an agglomerate).

[0317] 53. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 45a, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, or 52, further comprising at least one enzyme.

[0318] 54. The composition of embodiment 53, wherein the enzyme is a cellulase, protease, amylase, lipase, or nuclease,

[0319] 55. The composition of embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 45a, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, or 54, further comprising at least one of a complexing agent, soil release polymer, surfactancy-boosting polymer, bleaching agent, bleach activator, bleaching catalyst, fabric conditioner, clay, foam booster, suds suppressor, anti-corrosion agent, soil-suspending agent, anti-soil re-deposition agent, dye, bactericide, tarnish inhibitor, optical brightener, perfume, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, dye transfer-inhibiting agent, chelating agent, hueing dye, visual signaling ingredient, anti-foam, structurant, thickener, anti-caking agent, starch, sand, or gelling agent.

[0320] 55a. The composition of any one of embodiments 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, or 55, but instead wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative has the following feature(s):

[0321] the alpha-glucan graft copolymer has a DoS of about 0.005-2.0, 0.005-1.6, 0.005-1.5, 0.005-1.25, 0.005-1.0, 0.005-0.9, 0.005-0.8, 0.005-0.7, 0.005-0.6, 0.005-0.5, 0.005-0.25, 0.005-0.1, 0.01-2.0, 0.01-1.6, 0.01-1.5, 0.01-1.25, 0.01-1.0, 0.01-0.9, 0.01-0.8, 0.01-0.7, 0.01-0.6, 0.01-0.5, 0.01-0.25, 0.01-0.1, 0.05-2.0, 0.05-1.6, 0.05-1.5, 0.05-1.25, 0.05-1.0, 0.05-0.9, 0.05-0.8, 0.05-0.7, 0.05-0.6, 0.05-0.5, 0.1-2.0, 0.1-1.6, 0.1-1.5, 0.1-1.25, 0.1-1.0, 0.1-0.9, 0.1-0.8, 0.1-0.7, 0.1-0.6, 0.1-0.5, 0.2-2.0, 0.2-1.6, 0.2-1.5, 0.2-1.25, 0.2-1.0, 0.2-0.9, 0.2-0.8, 0.2-0.7, 0.2-0.6, or 0.2-0.5 with a methyl group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer (in typical aspects, the alpha-glucan graft copolymer is only subsituted with methyl groups [i.e., no other type of substitution group is present]) (e.g., the alpha-glucan graft copolymer has [i] a backbone of about 5-300 kDa or 150-225 kDa, and [ii] a the alpha-glucan graft copolymer instead comprises about 10-30 wt% [e.g., -10-20, -10-17.5, -12.5-20, -12.5-17.5, -15-18, -15-17, or -15 wt%] of the backbone, and about 70-90 wt% [e.g., -80-90, -82.5-90, -80-87.5, -82.5-87.5, -83-85, or -85 wt%] of the one or more side chains; optionally wherein the alpha-glucan graftcopolymer has a DoS of about 0.005-1.25, 0.005-1.0, 0.005-0.8, 0.05-1.25, 0.05-1.0, or 0.05-0.8 [e.g., DoS <1.25 or <1.3]).

[0322] 56. A method (process) of producing a methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer (e.g., as per any one of embodiments 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, or 45) (i.e., a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative), the method comprising:

[0323] (a) contacting an alpha-glucan graft copolymer with at least one etherification agent comprising a methyl group (a methylation agent) (where the contacting is done under suitable reaction conditions for the etherification agent to etherify the alpha-glucan graft copolymer), wherein the contacting is performed in a reaction composition with ingredients / components (e.g., at least water, alkali metal hydroxide [e.g., NaOH], organic solvent [e.g., dimethyl ether], methylation agent [e.g., methyl halide such as methyl chloride], alpha-glucan graft copolymer) that were brought together during a single mixing step (e.g., there is no staged addition of one or more of the reaction composition ingredients / components), wherein the methyl group is etherified to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer, thereby producing a methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises:

[0324] (i) a backbone comprising dextran, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages

[0325] (ii) one or more alpha-glucan side chains, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and (iii) about 30-70 wt% of the backbone, and about 30-70 wt% of the one or more side chains, and

[0326] (b) optionally isolating the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative produced in step (a), wherein the isolating comprises washing the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative (typically as a solid that has formed during step [a]) one or more times with (i) water or (ii) an aqueous liquid comprising at least 98 wt% (e.g., at least 98.5, 99.0, or 99.5 wt%) water (e.g., with at least about 1, 2, or 3 displacements of the water or aqueous liquid), thereby providing washed solids, wherein the washed solids optionally comprise less than about 0.5 wt% (e.g., less than -0.4 or -0.3 wt%) salt (e.g., NaCI) on a dry weight basis,

[0327] optionally further wherein the isolating further comprises drying (e.g., to provide solids with less than 5, 2.5, 1, or 0.5 wt% water) the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative following the washing.57. The method of embodiment 56, wherein at least about 75% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

[0328] 58. The method of embodiment 56 or 57, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least -95% or -100%) of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

[0329] 59. The method of embodiment 56, 57, or 58, wherein the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the dextran is at least about 5000 Daltons (e.g., at least about 10000 or 20000 Daltons, or about 5000-300000 Daltons).

[0330] 60. The method of embodiment 56, 57, 58, or 59, wherein the Mw of the dextran is at least about 100000 Daltons (e.g., at least about 1 or 10 million Daltons).

[0331] 61. The method of embodiment 56, 57, 58, 59, or 60, wherein at least about 90% (e.g., at least about 95%, 97,5%, or 99%, or about 100%) of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages.

[0332] 62. The method of embodiment 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, or 61, wherein the weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of the one or more side chains is at least about 15 (e.g., at least about 50 or 100).

[0333] 63. The method of embodiment 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, or 62, wherein the DPw of the one or more side chains is at least about 400 (e.g., at least about 600, 700, or 800). 64. The method of embodiment 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, or 63, wherein the alphaglucan graft copolymer comprises about 35-65 wt% (e.g., -40-60, -45-55, -48-52, or -50 wt%) of the backbone, and about 35-65 wt% (e.g., -40-60, -45-55, -48-52, or -50 wt%) of the one or more side chains.

[0334] 65. The method of embodiment 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, or 64, wherein the isolating step (b) is performed.

[0335] 66. The method of embodiment 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, or 65, wherein the water or aqueous liquid is at a temperature of at least about 90 °C (e.g., about, or at least about 95, 100, 90-95, 90-100, 90-105, 90-110, 95-100, 95-105, or 95-110 °C). 67. A method (process) for treating a substrate, the method comprising: (a) providing a composition according embodiment 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 45a, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, or 55a, (b) contacting a substrate with the composition, and (c) optionally rinsing the substrate; optionally wherein the substrate is a textile, fabric, carpet, upholstery, apparel, tableware, or surface (e.g., hard surface).EXAMPLES

[0336] The present disclosure is further exemplified in the following Examples, it should be understood that these Exampies, whiie indicating certain aspects herein, are given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and these Examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of the disclosed embodiments, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to adapt the disclosed embodiments to various uses and conditions, Materials / Methods

[0337] Representative Preparation of Aipha-1.3-Glucan:

[0338] Alpha-1,3-glucan with ~100% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages can be synthesized, for example, following the procedures disclosed in U.S. Appl. Publ. No. 2014 / 079913 (see Example 12 therein, for example), which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0339] As another example, a slurry of alpha-1,3-glucan with ~100% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages was prepared from an aqueous solution (0.5 L) containing Streptococcus salivanus gtfJ enzyme (100 unit / L) as described in U. S. Patent Appl, Publ. No.

[0340] 2013 / 0244288 (incorporated herein by reference), sucrose (100 g / L), potassium phosphate buffer (10 mM), and FermaSure® antimicrobial agent (100 ppm) adjusted to pH 5.5. The resulting enzyme reaction was maintained at 20-25 °C for 24 hours. A slurry was formed since the alpha-1,3-glucan synthesized in the reaction was aqueous-insoluble. The alpha-1,3-glucan solids were then collected using a Buchner funnel fitted with a 325-mesh screen over 40-micrometer filter paper.

[0341] Representative Preparation of Dextran-Alpha-1,3-Glucan Graft Copolymers:

[0342] Dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymers were prepared generally following procedures as disclosed in U. S. Patent. Appl. Publ. No. 2020 / 0165360, which is incorporated herein by reference. In general, graft copolymers were prepared by first synthesizing dextran in reactions comprising water, sucrose and a glucosyltransferase (GTF) enzyme (e.g., GTF 0768 [SEQ ID NO:1 or 2 of US2016 / 0122445], GTF 8117, GTF 6831, or GTF 5604 [these latter three GTF enzymes are SEQ ID NOs:30, 32 and 33, respectively, of US2018 / 0282385]; each reference incorporated herein by reference). Using the dextran as a primer / acceptor, alpha- 1,3-glucan was then synthesized in a manner similar to what is described in U. S. Patent. Appl. Publ. No. 2020 / 0165360 (ibid.) and U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. No. 2019 / 0078063, which is incorporated herein by reference; thus, alpha-1, 3-glucan side chains were synthesized off of a dextran backbone to form a dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer. In general, alpha-1, 3-glucan side chain synthesis was performed in a reaction comprisingwater, sucrose (56 wt% solution, fed into reaction), buffer, dextran primer (e.g., as above) and an amino acid-modified, high product-yielding S. salivarius-based glucosyltransferase enzyme that synthesizes alpha- 1,3-glucan with all or nearly all aipha-1,3 linkages. Graft copolymer products typically were washed by water displacement to remove most or all solutes (e.g., buffer, sugars, soluble oligomers) remaining after enzymatic synthesis, and then filtered to provide a wet cake, which can be used directly in downstream derivatization reactions, or dried and then used for such reactions. The foregoing procedure and graft copolymer product thereof merely represent examples of those that can be used in the present disclosure to provide dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymers for chemical derivatization.

[0343] Example 1

[0344] Synthesis of Methyl Alpha-1,3-Glucan Ether with Enhanced Viscosity and Isolation Features

[0345] Water-insoluble alpha-1,3-glucan samples of DPw -200 or DPw -800 (both with about 100% alpha-1,3 linkages) were used in this Example.

[0346] Summary

[0347] Besides trying to enhance viscosity properties as a key attribute of our alpha- 1,3-glucan methyl products, their efficient purification following synthesis is another important element to enable an industrial scale process. Below, our synthesis approaches using NaOH, methyl chloride, and alpha-1, 3-glucan of about DPw 200 resulted in limited glucan ether product purification flexibility (poor hot water washing capacity). Furthermore, these glucan ether products could only provide a low level of viscosity in aqueous settings. However, the use of alpha- 1,3-glucan of higher molecular weight (~DPw 800) allowed for synthesizing glucan ether products with much better hot water washing capability. These glucan ether products also had a surprising viscosity maximum that was reached using glucan ether products of lower DoS (degree of substitution, or “DS”) with methyl (Me) groups.

[0348] Experimental and Results

[0349] First, methyl alpha-1,3-glucan ether synthesis was conducted using DPw -200 alpha-1,3-glucan (0.5 mol [91.5 g w / 11.4 wt% water content]) (in each reaction). The following synthesis conditions (reactions A-D) were employed (Table 1):

[0350] Table 1*

[0351] A B C D

[0352] Alkalization temp. (’C) 40 40 40 40

[0353]

[0354] NaOH-1 - 50% solution (mol / mol) 1.5 3.5 1.5 3.5Alkalization time (min) 30 30 30 30

[0355] DME (mol / mol) 1.5 2 1.5 2

[0356] MeCI-1 - addition (mol / mol) 2.0 4.0 2.0 4.0

[0357] Heat to target temperature (min) 35 35 35 35 Target temperature (°C) 80 80 70 70 Reaction time (min) 15 150 15 150 Cooling for 2nd NaOH addition (°C) 60 — 60 —

[0358] in (min) 15 15

[0359] NaOH-2 - 50% solution (mol / mol) 2.5 2.5 —

[0360] MeCI-2 - addition (mol / mol) 3.0 3.0 Art

[0361] Heat to target temperature (min) 15 15

[0362] Target temperature (°C) 80 — 70 —

[0363]

[0364] Reaction at 80 ”C for (min) 100 — 100 — *Abbreviations / notes: NaOH, sodium hydroxide; DME, dimethyl ether; MeCI-1, methyi chloride (first addition); MeCI-2, methyl chloride (second addition), ‘mol / mol” refers to moles of listed reagent to moles of alpha-1,3-glucan.

[0365] These synthesis parameters (Table 1) resulted in methyl alpha-1,3-glucan ethers that posed purification challenges due to poor hot water washing capability (Table 2).

[0366] Table 2*

[0367] A B C D

[0368] Stage addition Yes NO Yes No

[0369] Target temperature (°C) 80 80 70 70 Reaction time at target temp. 115 150 115 150

[0370] DoS (Me) 1.59 1.47 1.41 1.17

[0371] NaCI wt% 0.63 2.89 2.03 6.74

[0372]

[0373] 2 wt% solution viscosity (mPa*s) 98 197 140 21 *Abbreviations / notes: DoS, degree of substitution (measured by capillary electrophoresis); Me, methyl; NaCI (residual / not washed away).

[0374] The methyl alpha-1,3-glucan products of reactions A and B (Table 2) only exhibited a limited ability to be hot water-washed (~90-95 °C, 3-5 L) for purification. Products C and D (Table 2) could not be washed with hot water, and were instead washed with an 80:20 acetone:water solution. Table 2 shows the viscosities of 2 wt% preparations of eachwashed methyl alpha-1,3-glucan product in water (~20 °C) (viscosity measured at shear rate of 10 s-1).

[0375] Next, methyl alpha-1,3-glucan ether synthesis was conducted using DPw ~800 alpha-1,3-glucan (0.5 mol) (in each reaction). The following synthesis conditions (reactions 062, 063, 064, 065, 066, 067) were employed (Table 3);Table 3

[0376] -063 -064 -065 -066 -067 Alkalization temp. -C | 40 40 40 40 40 40 | NaOH (50% solution) mol / mol | 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.0 Alkalization time min 30 30 30 30 30 30

[0377] DME mol / mol 20 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 | ~C|

[0378] mol / mol | 4.2 3.7 3.2 2.7 2.2 1.1 Heating to °C | 85 85 85 85 85 85 | in min | 45 45 45 45 45 45 Reaction time min | 150 150 150 150 150 150

[0379] _ ___ ___ _ _ _ _ __ _ i Dry content

[0380] Viscosity (2% cone.) mPa*s | 11960 12410 28190 53670 44420 n.a.

[0381]

[0382] | Bulk density g / L 570 595 610 620 650 650

[0383] Analytical

[0384] Methoxyl % atro 24.1 24.27 24.22 23.16 20.76 11.74

[0385] DoS(Me) 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.36 1.22 0.65

[0386]

[0387] j NaCI wt% 0.38 0.14 0.3 0.25 1.3 0.07 *Abbreviations / notes: DoS, degree of substitution (measured by capillary electrophoresis); Me, methyl.As shown in the results of Table 3, the change to using alpha-1,3-glucan of higher molecular weight (DPw -800, instead of -200) in methyl etherification reactions led to improved methyl glucan ether purification with hot water (-90-95 °C) washing (e.g., note much lower remaining NaCI levels in the purified product preparations, as compared to the product preparations listed in Table 2). In particular, the washing was done with about 3-5 L of hot water (generally, less than 10 L of hot water was used in these studies for about -250 g of product). Additionally, significant higher viscosities were obtained with the Table 3 products as compared to those of Table 2. Surprisingly, as seen when comparing the methyl glucan products of Table 3, their viscosity-forming activity generally appeared to increase as a function of decreasing DoS (Me).

[0388] Example 2

[0389] Synthesis of Methyl Alpha- 1,3-Glucan Ether

[0390] Water-insoluble alpha-1,3-glucan of DPw -800 (with about 100% alpha-1,3 linkages) was used in this Example,

[0391] The information listed in Table 4 describes the methyl alpha- 1,3-glucan synthesis conditions of this Example. Reaction -068 was a typical methylation process using 30 minutes alkalization time and 40 °C temperature. Reactions -069 and -070 used shorter alkalization times leading to slightly higher viscosity profiles of their respective glucan ether products. An increase of alkalization temperature (Reaction -070) surprisingly led to an even further increased viscosity profile of the glucan ether product.

[0392] A further decrease of the sodium hydroxide level during the methyl glucan synthesis (Reactions -071 and -073) led to only slightly lower DoS (Me); but surprisingly, this decreased DoS resulted in a significantly increased viscosity profile(Table 4). These viscosity results are consistent with the results in Example 1. The lowering of the alkalization time from 30 to 5 minutes, and the increase of reaction temperature, again increased product viscosity significantly with only a minor impact on DoS (Me).Table 4

[0393]

[0394] Example 3

[0395] Synthesis of Methyl Ether Derivative of Dextran-Alpha-1,3-Glucan Graft Copolymer GT50, which is the alpha-glucan used in this Example, is a dextran-alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer with a dextran backbone content of about 50 wt% and an alpha-1,3-glucan side chains content of about 50 wt%. This graft copolymer was prepared generally following procedures as disclosed in U. S. Patent Appl. PubL No.

[0396] 2020 / 0165360, which is incorporated herein by reference. In general, graft copolymers were prepared by first synthesizing dextran in reactions comprising water, sucrose and a glucosyltransferase enzyme (GTF 0768, disclosed as SEQ ID NOs:1 and 2 in U. S. Patent No. 10059779, which is incorporated herein by reference). Using the dextran as a primer / acceptor, alpha-1,3-glucan was then synthesized in a manner similar to what is described in U. S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2020 / 0165360 (above) or 2019 / 0078063, which is incorporated herein by reference; thus, alpha-1,3-glucan side chains (each of 100% alpha-1,3 linkages) were synthesized off of a dextran backbone to form a dextran- alpha-1,3-glucan graft copolymer.

[0397] Summary

[0398] As described in Example 1, etherification approaches using NaOH, methyl chloride, and alpha-1,3-glucan of DPw -200 resulted in glucan ether products with limited purification ability and low viscosity profile. In this Example using an alphaglucan graft copolymer, GT50, etherifications without staged additions of the reactants produced methylated GT50 products that could be purified with hot water washing. Methylated GT50 products with a DoS of at least 1.5 were able to be used to produce aqueous solutions of high viscosity. Onset of gelation of these solutions was also detected.

[0399] Experimental and Results

[0400] A series of methyl etherification reactions (-056, -057, -058, -059, -060, -061) were performed with parameters and product results listed in Table 5.

[0401] Table 5

[0402] -056 j -057 j -058 j -059 j -060 -061 Alkalization Temp. (°C) 40 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 20 5 NaOH~1 - 50% solution

[0403] (mol / mol) 3.5 3.5 | 3.5 3.5 | 3.5 3.5 Alkalization time (min) 15 30 | 30 60 | 30 30 DME (mol / mol) 2.0 MeCI 1 - addition

[0404] (mol / mol) 4.0 4.0 | 4.0 4.0 | 2.0 2.0 Heating to 85 °C (min) 45 65 | 80 80 | 65 80

[0405]

[0406] Reaction at 85°C (min) 150 150 150 150 20 20Cool down for 2nd

[0407] dosage (°C) -- | -- | -- | -- | 65 65 in (min) -- 20 20 NaOH-2 - 50% solution

[0408] (mol / mol) -- | -- | -- | -- | 2.5 2.5 MeCI 2 - addition

[0409] (mol / mol) _ 3.0 Heating to 85 °C (min) 20 Reaction at 85 °C (min) -- I -- I -- | - | 90 90

[0410] Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Need water water water water Need for for washing washing washing washing solvent solvent Purification: possible|possible|possible|possible| washing washing DoS (Me) 1.61 | 1.61 | 1.576 | 1.61 | 1.39 0.99 NaCI (wt%) 3.34 2.19 j 2.9 4.36 j 24 47.4 Viscosity (2 wt%)

[0411]

[0412] at 10 s ’8(20 °C) _ 4534 5072 | 4660 4390 | n.a. n.a.

[0413] Based on the information listed in Table 5. not using staged addition of etherification reactants (reactions -056. -057, -058 and -059) allowed for preparation of methyl GT50 ether products that could be readily purified (as in Example 1 with hot water washing) and then used to thicken aqueous liquid. The glucan ether products of these reactions generally had a DoS with methyl of at least about 1.5.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A composition comprising at least one methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises:(i) a backbone comprising dextran, wherein at least about 50% of the giycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 giycosidic linkages (ii) one or more alpha-giucan side chains, wherein at least about 50% of the giycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are a!pha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and(iii) about 30-70 wt% of said backbone, and about 30-70 wt% of said one or more side chains,wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer has a degree of substitution (DoS) of at least about 1.5 with a methyl group that is ether-linked to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least about 75% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least about 90% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the dextran is at least about 5000 Daltons.

5. The composition of ciaim 1, wherein the Mw of the dextran is at least about 100000 Daltons.

6. The composition of ciaim 1, wherein at least about 90% of the giycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of the one or more side chains is at least about 15.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the DPw of the one or more side chains is at least about 400.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises about 35-65 wt% of said backbone, and about 35-65 wt% of said one or more side chains.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein said DoS is at least about 1.55.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein said DoS is about 1.5 to 2.0.

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer is only substituted with said ether-linked methyl group.

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative has a biodegradability as determined by a carbon dioxide evolution test method of at least 10% after 15, 60, or 90 days.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is an aqueous composition.

15. The composition of claim 14. wherein the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative is dissolved in the aqueous composition.

16. The composition of claim 14, wherein the viscosity of the aqueous composition is at least about 3000 mPa-s,typically wherein said viscosity is measured with the aqueous composition at a temperature of about 18-25 °C and a rotational shear rate of about 5 to 15 s-1, and typically wherein the concentration of the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative in the aqueous composition is about 1.5 to 2.5 wt%.

17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a household care product, personal care product, industrial product, medical product, ingestible product, or pharmaceutical product.

18. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one surfactant.

19. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of, or comprised in, a liquid, gel, powder, hydrocolloid, granule, tablet, capsule, tile, sheet, film, wafer, bead or pastille, single-compartment sachet, multicompartment sachet, single-compartment pouch, or multi-compartment pouch.

20. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of, or comprised in, a water-dispersible unit dose or a water-dissolvable unit dose.

21. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one enzyme.

22. The composition of claim 21, wherein the enzyme is a cellulase, protease, amylase, lipase, or nuclease.

23. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a complexing agent, soil release polymer, surfactancy-boosting polymer, bleaching agent, bleach activator, bleaching catalyst, fabric conditioner, clay, foam booster, suds suppressor, anti-corrosion agent, soil-suspending agent, anti-soil re-deposition agent, dye, bactericide, tarnish inhibitor, optical brightener, perfume, saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, dye transfer-inhibiting agent, chelating agent, hueing dye, visual signaling ingredient, anti-foam, structurant, thickener, anti-caking agent, starch, sand, or gelling agent.

24. A method of producing a methyl ether derivative of an alpha-glucan graft copolymer, said method comprising:(a) contacting an alpha-glucan graft copolymer with at least one etherification agent comprising a methyl group, wherein the contacting is performed in a reaction composition with ingredients / components that were brought together during a single mixing step, wherein the methyl group is etherified to the alpha-glucan graft copolymer, thereby producing a methyl alphaglucan graft copolymer ether derivative,wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises:(i) a backbone comprising dextran, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages(ii) one or more alpha-glucan side chains, wherein at least about 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages, and(iii) about 30-70 wt% of said backbone, and about 30-70 wt% of said one or more side chains,and(b) optionally isolating the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative produced in step (a), wherein said isolating comprises washing the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative one or more times with (i) water or (ii) an aqueous liquid comprising at least 98 wt% water, thereby providing washed solids, wherein the washed solids optionally comprise less than about 0,5 wt% salt on a dry weight basis, optionally further wherein said isolating further comprises drying the methyl alpha-glucan graft copolymer ether derivative following said washing.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least about 75% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein at least about 90% of the glycosidic linkages of the dextran are alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the dextran is at least about 5000 Daltons.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the Mw of the dextran is at least about 100000 Daltons.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein at least about 90% of the glycosidic linkages of the one or more side chains are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages,30. The method of claim 24, wherein the weight-average degree of polymerization (DPw) of the one or more side chains is at least about 15.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the DPw of the one or more side chains is at least about 400.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the alpha-glucan graft copolymer comprises about 35-65 wt% of said backbone, and about 35-65 wt% of said one or more side chains.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein said isolating step (b) is performed.

34. The method of ciaim 24, wherein the water or aqueous liquid is at a temperature of at ieast about 90 ’C.

35. A method for treating a substrate, the method comprising: (a) providing a composition according claim 1, (b) contacting a substrate with the composition, and (c) optionally rinsing the substrate; optionally wherein the substrate is a textile, fabric, carpet, upholstery, apparel, tableware, or surface.

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