Nonwoven glucan webs
Nonwoven webs formed from modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer and methods of forming the nonwoven webs are disclosed. The modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer can have a number average degree of polymerization in the range of from 55 to 10,000. The nonwoven webs can be used for personal hygiene wipes, filtration media, apparel or other uses.
1. A nonwoven web comprising fiber, wherein the fiber consists of modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer, wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer comprises 90% or greater α-1,3-glycosidic linkages, less than 1 α-1,3,6-glycosidic branch points, and a number average degree of polymerization of 55 to 10000; wherein the nonwoven web was formed on (i) a substrate under vacuum, (ii) a screen, (iii) a perforated substrate, or (iv) a belt.
2. The nonwoven web of claim 1 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer has a number average degree of polymerization of 75 to 1000.
3. The nonwoven web of claim 1 , wherein the unmodified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer from which the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is prepared is produced by a glucosyltransferase enzyme having 90% or greater sequence identity to Gtf J.
4. The nonwoven web of claim 1 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is a linear polymer having greater than or equal to 99% α-1,3-glycosidic linkages.
5. The nonwoven web of claim 1 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with carboxyalkyl, ether, benzyl, or ester groups, or a combination thereof.
6. The nonwoven web of claim 5 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with carboxyalkyl groups, and the carboxyalkyl groups are methylcarboxy, ethylcarboxy, propylcarboxy, butylcarboxy, pentylcarboxy, or a combination thereof.
7. The nonwoven web of claim 5 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with ether groups.
8. The nonwoven web of claim 5 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with benzyl groups.
9. The nonwoven web of claim 5 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with ester groups.
10. The nonwoven web of claim 9 , wherein the ester groups comprise an acyl group selected from acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, pentanoyl, hexanoyl, heptanoyl, octanoyl, or a combination thereof.
11. The nonwoven web of claim 1 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with an alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, or a combination thereof.
12. A nonwoven web comprising fiber, wherein the fiber comprises modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer, wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer comprises 90% or greater α-1,3-glycosidic linkages, less than 1% α-1,3,6-glycosidic branch points, and a number average degree of polymerization of 55 to 10000, and wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with benzyl groups.