Cationic Poly Alpha-1,3-Glucan Ether for Cellulase Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellulosic polymers in detergent formulations are limited by their instability to cellulase enzymes, leading to incompatibility and reduced effectiveness in fabric care products.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising cellulase and a cationic poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound, which is stable to cellulase activity and can modify viscosity and adsorb to fabric surfaces, allowing for the inclusion of cellulase in formulations without degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellulosic polymers are used in detergent formulations, then fabric care benefits and viscosity adjustment are improved, but stability to cellulase degradation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the polysaccharide by creating ether derivatives with specific substitution degrees (0.05 to 3.0) and using alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages instead of the natural beta-1,4 linkages in cellulose. This structural modification makes the polymer resistant to cellulase while retaining desirable properties like viscosity and fabric care benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system by combining modified cellulosic polymers (ether derivatives) with cellulase enzymes in a detergent formulation. The modified polymer structure allows both components to coexist without the polymer being degraded, enabling the formulation to provide both thickening and enzymatic fabric care benefits
2Productivity
If cellulase is included in detergent formulations, then color clarification and pill removal benefits are improved, but degradation of cellulosic polymers worsens
Solution Approach 1:
By modifying the glycosidic linkage type from beta-1,4 to alpha-1,3 and introducing ether substitutions, the patent creates a polymer structure that cellulase cannot recognize or degrade. This allows cellulase to remain active in the formulation without consuming the thickening polymer, maintaining both enzyme effectiveness and formulation stability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cationic poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound enhances the stability and performance of cellulase in detergent formulations, providing improved fabric care benefits while maintaining resistance to cellulase degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The disclosed compositions can exhibit non-Newtonian flow behavior and can be used to adjust the viscosity of a formulation
Implementation Method 2
The poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound can adsorb to fabric surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions comprising cellulase and at least one poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound having a degree of substitution with a positively charged organic group of about 0.05-3.0 are disclosed. Such compositions can be dry or aqueous, the latter of which can have a viscosity of at least about 10 cPs. The disclosed composition can be in the form of a personal care product, household product, or industrial product, for example. Also disclosed are a method for preparing an aqueous composition comprising cellulase and a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound, and a method of treating a material such as fabric by contacting it with this aqueous composition.