Nonwoven glucan webs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017167063-A1
Application number	US-201615373547-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Dec 14, 2015
Publication date	Jun 15, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A nonwoven web comprising a modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer, wherein the 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer comprises 90% or greater α-1,3-glycosidic linkages, less than 1% by weight of α-1,3,6-glycosidic branch points, a number average degree of polymerization in the range of from 55 to 10,000.

2 . The nonwoven web of claim 1 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer has a number average degree of polymerization in the range of from 75 to 1,000.

3 . The nonwoven web of claim 1 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer 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% of α-1,3-glycosidic linkages and less than 1% α-1,3,6-glycosidic branch points.

5 . The nonwoven web of claim 1 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with carboxyalkyl, ether, benzyl, ester groups or a combination thereof.

6 . A process comprising:
a) introducing a solution of an 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer into a chamber; b) contacting a pressurized gas with the solution of step (a) in the chamber to form fibers; and c) collecting the fibers to form a nonwoven web;
wherein the 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is a modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer.

7 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is modified with alkylcarboxy, ether, benzyl, formyl, ester groups or a combination thereof.

8 . The process of claim 6 , further comprising a step of fragmenting the solution with the pressurized gas prior to step (c), collecting the fibers.

9 . The process of claim 6 , further comprising a step of:
d) removing at least a portion of the solvent from the nonwoven web of fibers.

10 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is a linear polymer having greater than or equal to 99% of α-1,3-glycosidic linkages and less than 1% α-1,3,6-glycosidic branch points and a number average degree of polymerization in the range of from 55 to 10,000.

11 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the nonwoven web consists essentially of the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer.

12 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer has a number average degree of polymerization in the range of from 55 to 10,000.

13 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the pressurized gas is air.

14 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer is produced by a glucosyl transferase enzyme having 90% or greater sequence identity to Gtf J.

15 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the solution of the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer comprises in the range of from 5 to 50% by weight of the modified 1,3-α-D-glucan polymer, wherein the percentage by weight is based on the total amount of the solution.

Assignees

• Du Pont

Inventors

• Behabtu Natnael

Classifications

• D04H1/56

  in association with fibre formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion of staple fibres · CPC title

• D10B2509/026

  Absorbent pads; Tampons; Laundry; Towels · CPC title

• D01D5/04

  Dry spinning methods {(D01D5/0038 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• D01D5/0046

  the fibre formed by coagulation, i.e. wet electro-spinning · CPC title

• C08L5/00

  Compositions of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08L1/00 or C08L3/00 · CPC title