Synthesis and Washing-Assistant Properties of Poly (disodium cis-epoxysuccinate) Detergent Builder

Poly (disodium cis-epoxysuccinate) PESA as a non-nitrogen and non-phosphors biodegradable polymer showing good chelating ability to calcium and magnesium ions and good buffer capacity can be used in detergent industry. PESA Polymers were synthesized by solution polymerization of disodium cis-epoxysuccinate in the presence of calcium hydroxide as initiator, while disodium cis-epoxysuccinate obtained by epoxidation of maleic anhydride using sodium tungstate as catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as oxidation. The molecule structures of both materials were characterized by IR and ¹H NMR. The detergent properties of PESA polymers were investigated. The optimum synthetic conditions were found:reaction temperature=90℃, reaction time=6 h, mass content of Ca(OH)₂=4%. And the calcium chelating and dispersing abilities (Expressed as CaCO₃) were quantified as 367.5 mg CaCO₃/g and 112.8 mg CaCO₃/g, respectively.