Organic Builders. XXII.

Abstract

The following oligomers containing ether linkages on their backbone were prepared by ring opening polymerizations of the corresponding oxirane derivatives : poly (sodium glycidate) (PG), poly (sodium 3, 4-epoxybutanoate) (PEB), poly (sodium glycidylthioacetate) (PGTA), poly (sodium glycidyloxyacetate) (PGOA), poly (disodium glycidyloxymalonate) (PGOM) and poly (disodium epoxysuccinate) (PES). Their building performance in detergents and biodegradability were examined and compared with those of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), disodium 3-oxapentanedioate (ODA) and trisodium citrate. Polycarboxylate oligomers containing ether linkages showed better building performances than those of ODA and trisodium citrate. Oligomers containing a malonate group (PGOM) showed the best, but were slightly inferior to those of STPP and sodium acrylate oligomers. These polycarboxylate oligomers containing ether linkages showed better biodegradability with activated sludge or soil bacteria. PG was biodegraded 25% and PES, more than 40% the initial oligomer within 5 days. It was found that the introduction of ether linkages to the backbone of acrylate oligomers promoted their biodegradability.