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.
