A hydrophilic polymer with improved biodegradability and particular
usefulness in detergent compositions contains units derived by
polymerization from at least one monomers A bearing a carboxylic acid
function or an equivalent function, units derived by polymerization from
at least one monomers B bearing an electron-rich group or a function
capable of introducing an electron-rich group into the main chain, and,
optionally, units derived by polymerization from at least one monomers C
which is copolymerizable with A and B, but is different from A and B.
Examples of suitable monomers as monomers A include maleic anhydride,
acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, fumaric acid and maleic
acid, and the salts thereof. Examples of suitable monomers as monomers B
include butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene, dimethylbutadiene,
cyclohexadiene, butadienecarboxylic acid, butadienedicarboxylic acid,
acetylene, acetylenecarboxylic acid and acetylenedicarboxylic acid.
Suitable monomers as monomers C include vinyl, acrylic and styrene
monomers and derivatives thereof.
