Modification and evaluation of natural polysaccharides and their application in fabric care

The global impact of laundry detergent production on energy consumption and environmental conservation underscores the need for innovative solutions, particularly in the development of organic and eco-friendly laundry care products1. While surfactants remain integral to laundry formulations, the current detergents have evolved to also include polymers, builders, bleaching agents, enzymes, and chelating agents, playing a crucial role in controlling cleaning performance2.
Despite the several benefits of polymers and how they improved today's quality of life, the fossil nature of over 98% of current polymers and their disposal via incineration contribute significantly to CO2 emissions3. Addressing this challenge requires the utilization of polymers designed for complete biodegradation or degradation into environmentally benign products, given the limited biodegradability of many currently employed polymers4.
Biological polymers, such as chitosan, cellulose, and starch, provide a promising foundation for the development of biodegradable polymers due to their non-toxic nature and natural metabolization. However, native biological polymers often lack the desired performance for specific applications, necessitating chemical modification. Hybrid polymers, combining biological and synthetic components, represent an approach to leverage the best properties of both polymer classes3.
Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), derived from chitosan, exhibits excellent water solubility and low viscosity, even under strong alkaline conditions5. The presence of reactive amino and hydroxyl groups in chitosan's macromolecular structure allows for various modifications, such as alkylation, acylation, and Schiff base formation, tailoring its properties for diverse applications. However, chemical modifications can compromise the biodegradability of chitosan, since molecular weight, macromolecular architecture and the end groups of the polymer can affect this property4.
Hydrophobic modifications have been identified as beneficial for optimizing polysaccharides' physico-chemical properties in laundry applications. The length and degree of substitution of hydrophobic appendages are key factors requiring precise tuning to deliver substantial benefits in textiles6.
This study aims to produce modified natural biodegradable polymers, addressing the limited information on their use in laundry care and responding to the increasing demand for eco-friendly products. The objective is to enhance cleaning performance and contribute to a circular economy, aligning with the imperative for sustainable solutions in laundry care.

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2 K. Jangir, A. Gour, N. K. Suniya, S. K. Meena and K. Parihar, Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, 2023, 100, 100815.
3 B. von Vacano, H. Mangold, G. W. M. Vandermeulen, G. Battagliarin, M. Hofmann, J. Bean and A. Kunkel, Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, , DOI:10.1002/anie.202210823.
4 G. W. M. Vandermeulen, A. Boarino and H. A. Klok, Journal of Polymer Science, 2022, 60, 1797-1813.
5 L. Yue, J. Li, W. Chen, X. Liu, Q. Jiang and W. Xia, Carbohydr Polym, 2017, 176, 356-364.
6 M. D'Avino, R. Chilton, S. Gang, M. R. Sivik and D. A. Fulton, Ind Eng Chem Res, 2022, 61, 14159-14172.