Cationic Poly Alpha-1,6-Glucan Ethers for Fabric Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for new materials in aqueous applications, such as fabric care, that can act as anti-deposition and anti-graying agents in laundry detergents, and in home and personal care, which can be made from renewable resources and provide effective deposition and retention of active ingredients.
Innovation Solution
Development of cationic poly alpha-1,6-glucan ether compounds with a backbone of glucose monomer units linked via alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages, optionally branched via alpha-1,2 and/or alpha-1,3 linkages, and substituted with positively charged organic groups, offering a weight average degree of polymerization of at least 5 and a degree of substitution between 0.001 and 3.0, suitable for use in various product forms including liquids, gels, and powders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional detergent ingredients are used, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but deposition and retention of active ingredients is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of polysaccharides by introducing cationic charges through substitution with positively charged organic groups (e.g., ammonium groups). This parameter change enables the polysaccharides to interact with negatively charged fabric surfaces and active ingredients, thereby improving deposition and retention while maintaining biodegradability and renewable sourcing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates composite molecular structures by combining polysaccharide backbones (providing biodegradability and renewable origin) with cationic organic groups (providing deposition and retention capabilities). This composite approach integrates multiple functions into a single material that addresses both cleaning effectiveness and active ingredient retention.
2Ease of manufacture
If renewable resources are used for material production, then sustainability is improved, but functional performance in aqueous applications is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the renewable and biodegradable characteristics of polysaccharide-based materials while modifying their chemical parameters through cationic substitution. This allows the material to retain its eco-friendly production advantages while gaining enhanced functional performance in aqueous applications such as fabric care and personal care products.
3Reliability
If polysaccharides are used as rheology modifiers, then viscosity control is achieved, but anti-deposition and anti-graying activity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cationic groups at specific locations on the polysaccharide molecule (through substitution at various positions on the glucose units), creating local areas of positive charge. This local modification enables specific interactions with negatively charged surfaces and stains, providing anti-deposition and anti-graying activity while maintaining the overall polysaccharide structure for rheology modification.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to poly alpha-1,6-glucan ether compounds comprising poly alpha-1,6-glucan substituted with at least one positively charged organic group and having a degree of substitution of about 0.001 to about 3.0. The poly alpha-1,6-glucan comprises a backbone of glucose monomer units wherein greater than or equal to 40% of the glucose monomer units are linked via alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages, and optionally about 3% of the backbone glucose monomer units have branches via alpha-1,2 and/or alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. Compositions comprising a poly alpha-1,6-glucan ether compound can be useful in various applications.