Saccharide-Linked Polymeric Dyes for Biodegradable Non-Staining Colorants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing non-staining dyes used in household cleaning and fabric care products are not biodegradable, posing environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

Development of polymeric colorants with enhanced biodegradability by incorporating sugar moieties derived from monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides into the dye structure, utilizing polyalkylene oxide linkers and specific chromophores.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional non-staining dyes are used in household cleaning products, then non-staining properties are achieved, but biodegradability is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-staining propertiesVSAvoidbiodegradability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional non-staining dye structures with biodegradable sugar moieties (monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, or polysaccharides) through polyalkylene oxide linkers. This creates a hybrid molecular structure that integrates the non-staining properties of conventional dyes with the biodegradability of natural sugar compounds, resolving the contradiction between durability and environmental friendliness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the dye by incorporating sugar-containing building blocks with specific molecular weights and structures. By adjusting the type and amount of sugar moieties and polyalkylene oxide linkers, the patent optimizes both the non-staining performance and biodegradability parameters simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If dyes are chemically modified with ethylene glycol units to enhance water solubility, then non-staining properties improve, but biodegradability remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater solubilityVSAvoidbiodegradability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing or supplementing ethylene glycol units with sugar moieties containing hydroxyl groups. This modification maintains water solubility through hydrogen bonding capability while introducing biodegradable structures that microorganisms can metabolize

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates biodegradable sugar moieties that can be broken down by microorganisms into simple compounds like carbon dioxide and water. This allows the dye to fulfill its temporary coloring function and then decompose completely, replacing persistent synthetic structures with environmentally benign, short-lived natural compounds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4617327A1Polymeric dyes with enhanced biodegradability containing saccharide or polysaccharide building blocks

Publication Date: 2025.09.17 HEUBACH HLDG SWITZERLAND AG (LTD)

AI summary

A polymeric colorant of formula (I) where a is a chromophore selected from the group consisting of nitro, nitroso, monazo; bisazo, diarylmethane, triarylmethane, acridine, ethine, thiazole, indamine; oxazine, cyanine/methane, pthalocyanine and anthraquinone dye residues; L is a polyalkylene oxide linker composed of one or more alkylene oxides; selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and butylene oxide; R1 is nitrogen, - NH-, oxygen, or sulfur; R2 is hydrogen, a methyl group, or an ethyl group; X is -NH-, - O- or -O-C(O)-; b is 1, 2 or 3; c is 1 if R1 is NH, oxygen or sulfur, and 2 if R1 is nitrogen; B is a sugar residue.