A process for producing alkali metal polymaleimide salts by alkaline
hydrolysis of maleimide polymers prepared by polymerization of maleimide
monomers in the presence of a metal oxide and alcohol initiator or a base.
In particular, the process produces alkali metal polymaleimide salts with
particular ratios of C--N and C--C connected maleimide-derived monomer
units which are dependent on the particular initiator used to synthesize
the maleimide polymer. The alkali metal polymaleimide salts, which have
chelating and anti-scaling properties, are useful as chelating agents and
detergent builders and as such are suitable biodegradable replacements for
synthetic polymers and sodium polyaspartate.
