Oxidized dextran

1. A composition comprising an oxidized dextran compound, wherein the oxidized dextran compound is produced by contacting dextran under aqueous conditions with at least one N-oxoammonium salt, at least one periodate compound, and/or at least one peroxide compound, wherein the dextran consists of:

(i) about 87-91.5 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 6;

(ii) about 0.1-1.2 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 3;

(iii) about 0.1-0.7 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 4;

(iv) about 7.7-8.6 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1, 3 and 6; and

(v) about 0.4-1.7 wt % glucose linked only at:

(a) positions 1, 2 and 6, or

(b) positions 1, 4 and 6;

wherein the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the dextran is about 50 million to 200 million Daltons and the z-average radius of gyration of the dextran is about 200-280 nm.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the dextran consists of:

(i) about 89.5-90.5 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 6;

(ii) about 0.4-0.9 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 3;

(iii) about 0.3-0.5 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 4;

(iv) about 8.0-8.3 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1, 3 and 6; and

(v) about 0.7-1.4 wt % glucose linked only at:

(a) positions 1, 2 and 6, or

(b) positions 1, 4 and 6.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the dextran is a product of a glucosyltransferase enzyme comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the dextran is contacted with the periodate compound.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the dextran is first contacted with the periodate compound, and then contacted with the N-oxoammonium salt.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the N-oxoammonium salt comprises a TEMPO oxoammonium salt.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a household product, personal care product, industrial product, pharmaceutical product, or food product.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a detergent composition present in a household product.

9. A method of producing an oxidized dextran compound, the method comprising:

contacting dextran under aqueous conditions with at least one N-oxoammonium salt, at least one periodate compound, and/or at least one peroxide compound, wherein the dextran consists of:

(i) about 87-91.5 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 6;

(ii) about 0.1-1.2 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 3;

(iii) about 0.1-0.7 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 4;

(iv) about 7.7-8.6 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1, 3 and 6; and

(v) about 0.4-1.7 wt % glucose linked only at:

(a) positions 1, 2 and 6, or

(b) positions 1, 4 and 6;

wherein the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the dextran is about 50 million to 200 million Daltons and the z-average radius of gyration of the dextran is about 200-280 nm;

wherein the dextran is oxidized by the N-oxoammonium salt, periodate compound, and/or peroxide compound thereby producing the oxidized dextran compound.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

(I) the dextran is contacted with the periodate compound; or

(II) the dextran is first contacted with the periodate compound, and then contacted with the N-oxoammonium salt.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the N-oxoammonium salt comprises:

(I) a TEMPO oxoammonium salt, or

(II) a 4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt.

12. A method of increasing the builder capacity and/or anti-redeposition capacity of an aqueous composition, wherein the method comprises:

contacting an oxidized dextran compound produced according to the method of claim 9 with the aqueous composition, wherein the builder and/or anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition is increased by the oxidized dextran compound compared to the builder and/or anti-redeposition capacity of the aqueous composition before the contacting step.

13. A method of treating a material, said method comprising:

contacting the material with an aqueous composition comprising an oxidized dextran compound produced according to the method of claim 9 .

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the dextran is a product of a glucosyltransferase enzyme comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the dextran is a product of a glucosyltransferase enzyme comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising isolating the oxidized dextran compound.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the TEMPO oxoammonium salt or the 4-acetamido-TEMPO oxoammonium salt is provided by oxidizing an agent comprising TEMPO under said aqueous conditions.

18. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a detergent composition.

19. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the dextran is a product of a glucosyltransferase enzyme comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.

20. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the dextran consists of:

(i) 87-91.5 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 6;

(ii) 0.1-1.2 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 3;

(iii) 0.1-0.7 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 4;

(iv) 7.7-8.6 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1, 3 and 6; and

(v) 0.4-1.7 wt % glucose linked only at:

(a) positions 1, 2 and 6, or

(b) positions 1, 4 and 6.

21. The composition of claim 20 , wherein the dextran consists of:

(i) 89.5-90.5 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 6;

(ii) 0.4-0.9 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 3;

(iii) 0.3-0.5 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1 and 4;

(iv) 8.0-8.3 wt % glucose linked only at positions 1, 3 and 6; and

(v) 0.7-1.4 wt % glucose linked only at:

(a) positions 1, 2 and 6, or

(b) positions 1, 4 and 6.