Abstract
As a design of biodegradable water-soluble polymer, high molecular weight polycarboxylates containing biodegradable segments were prepared and their biodegradability and builder performance in detergent formulations were evaluated. Both natural polysaccharide derived from polycarboxylates containing unreacted sugar residues and chemically synthesized polycarboxylates containing poly (vinyl alcohol) blocks as a biodegradable segment showed similar tendencies. That is, the biodegradability and builder performance of the polycarboxylates varied inversely with the biodegradable segment content. However, the builder performance was improved when more a polymeric carboxylate was used in the detergent process. The minimum required structure needed as a biodegradable segment in the polymer chain with respect to the configuration and block length were clarified using the specific microbes and enzyme. High molecular weight polycarboxylates containing ester, ether and carbonyl groups were also evaluated and compared for biodegradability and builder performance. Biodegradability and builder performance were correlated with the molecular weight in order to develop biodegradable functional polymers by the reduction of their molecular weight to the extent that the environmental microbes can assimilate them.
