PRODUCTION OF POLYCARBOXYLIC ACID DERIVED FROM POLYSACCHARIDE COMPRISING STRUCTURAL UNITS OF ANHYDROUS GLUCOSE OR SALT THEREOF AND DETERGENT COMPOSITION CONTAINING THE ACID OR SALT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process for producing a polycarboxylic acid made from a polysaccharide comprising structural units of anhydrous glucose and having excellent biodegradability and having a high carboxyl content and a high molecular weight or a salt thereof and to provide a detergent composition containing the acid or the salt. ;SOLUTION: This process consists of subjecting an aqueous liquid containing a polysaccharide comprising structural units of anhydrous glucose, a transition metal or a transition metal compound and a metal halide to electrolysis to form a polycarboxylic acid which consumes at least 435 mg or above (in terms of the weight of sodium hydroxide) of an alkali, per g of the polycarboxylic acid, when neutralized by titration and has a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 or above or a salt thereof. The detergent composition comprises the polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof obtained by the above process and a surfactant.;COPYRIGHT: (C)1998,JPO