ABSTRACT
Polymeric dispersants were introduced into detergent formulations in the early 1980s as partial replacements for phosphate builders. Homopolymers of acrylic acid and copolymers of acrylic and maleic acids as their sodium salts are widely used as dispersants in powdered detergent formulations in Europe and North America. Their anionic character makes them incompatible with high-anionic-surfactant-containing liquid laundry formulations and they are, therefore, limited to powdered detergent formulations. The more rigorous requirements for assessing the biodegradability of water-soluble detergent dispersant polymers are best explained by the carbon balance equations for a hypothetical polymeric dispersant composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen shown below for disposal in aerobic and anaerobic environments. The chapter discusses the chemistry of used polymers, their preparation, performance, and environmental behavior; considers the technical requirements for biodegradable polymeric dispersants; and reviews the synthetic approaches that have been evaluated for producing biodegradable dispersant polymers.
