Use of poly alpha-1,3-glucan ethers as viscosity modifiers
A hydrocolloid or aqueous solution comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound is disclosed having a viscosity of at least about 10 centipoise (cPs). The poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound in these compositions has a degree of substitution of about 0.05 to about 3.0. Also disclosed is a method for increasing the viscosity of a hydrocolloid or aqueous composition using a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound.
1. A hydrocolloid or aqueous solution comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound represented by the structure:
wherein
(i) n is at least 6,
(ii) each R is independently an H or an organic group,
(iii) the compound has a degree of substitution of about 0.05 to about 3.0,
(iv) the compound is crosslinked, and
(v) the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution has a viscosity of at least about 10 centipoise.
2. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1 , wherein at least one organic group is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, and carboxy alkyl.
3. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 2 , wherein at least one organic group is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl, methyl, ethyl, hydroxypropyl, dihydroxypropyl, and hydroxyethyl.
4. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 2 , wherein the compound contains one type of organic group.
5. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 2 , wherein the compound contains two or more types of organic group.
6. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1 , wherein the degree of substitution is about 0.2 to about 2.0.
7. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 4 , wherein the organic group is carboxymethyl.
8. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution is between about 2.0 to about 12.0.
9. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution has shear thinning behavior or shear thickening behavior.
10. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocolloid or aqueous solution is in the form of a personal care product, pharmaceutical product, food product, household product, or industrial product.
11. A method for increasing the viscosity of an aqueous composition, the method comprising:
contacting a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound with the aqueous composition, wherein the viscosity of the aqueous composition is increased by said compound,
wherein said compound is represented by the structure:
wherein
(i) n is at least 6,
(ii) each R is independently an H or an organic group,
(iii) the compound has a degree of substitution of about 0.05 to about 3.0, and
(iv) the compound is crosslinked.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said contacting is performed by mixing or dissolving the poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound in the aqueous composition.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the aqueous composition is not filtered after said mixing or dissolving.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said mixing or dissolving comprises a homogenization step.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the shear thinning behavior or the shear thickening behavior of the aqueous composition is increased by said contacting.
16. A method of treating a material, said method comprising:
contacting a material with an aqueous composition comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound represented by the structure:
wherein
(i) n is at least 6,
(ii) each R is independently an H or an organic group,
(iii) the compound has a degree of substitution of about 0.05 to about 3.0, and
(iv) the compound is crosslinked.
17. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 1 , which is a hydrocolloid.
18. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 17 , wherein at least one organic group is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, and carboxy alkyl.
19. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 18 , wherein at least one organic group is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl, methyl, ethyl, hydroxypropyl, dihydroxypropyl, and hydroxyethyl.
20. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 18 , wherein the compound contains one type of organic group.
21. The hydrocolloid or aqueous solution of claim 20 , wherein the organic group is carboxymethyl.
22. A composition comprising a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound represented by the structure:
wherein
(i) n is at least 6,
(ii) each R is independently an H or an organic group,
(iii) the compound has a degree of substitution of about 0.05 to about 3.0, and
(iv) the compound is crosslinked.
23. The composition of claim 22 , which is an aqueous composition.