Poly Alpha-1,3-Glucan Ether Compositions Stable to Cellulase
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cellulosic polymers in detergent formulations are limited by their instability to cellulase enzymes, leading to incompatibility and reduced effectiveness in formulations that include both cellulosic polymers and cellulase.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising cellulase and a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound, which is stable to cellulase activity and can modify viscosity and rheological properties, allowing for its use in detergent 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 enzymes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the polymer by using poly alpha-1,3-glucan instead of traditional cellulosic polymers. This structural modification (alpha-1,3-glycosidic linkages versus beta-1,4-linkages in cellulose) fundamentally alters the polymer's susceptibility to cellulase enzymes, providing stability while maintaining functional properties like viscosity and fabric care benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite formulation by combining poly alpha-1,3-glucan with cellulase enzymes in a detergent system. This composite approach allows both components to coexist without degradation, enabling the formulation to simultaneously provide polymer-based fabric care benefits and enzyme-based cleaning action.
2Productivity
If cellulase is included in detergent formulations, then color clarification and pill removal benefits are improved, but degradation of cellulosic polymers occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the substrate parameters from cellulosic polymers to poly alpha-1,3-glucan, which has different glycosidic linkage characteristics. This parameter change makes the polymer substrate resistant to cellulase hydrolysis, preventing polymer degradation while allowing cellulase to maintain its productivity in color clarification and pill removal functions.
3Ease of operation
If cellulosic polymers and cellulase are used together, then fabric care benefits are improved, but formulation stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the polymer component to poly alpha-1,3-glucan, which fundamentally alters its interaction profile with cellulase. This parameter change enables the formulation to maintain stability (no degradation) while preserving ease of operation (fabric care benefits) through the polymer's functional properties.
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions comprising cellulase and at least one poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound having a degree of substitution with an 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.