Synergistic compositions of polysaccharides as natural and biodegradable absorbent materials or super absorbents

Abstract

A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition includes at least one polysaccharide and at least one or more polysaccharide-based components or gelling proteins. This composition possesses synergistic effects in its capacity to absorb water, saline solutions and biological fluids, at normal pressure or under load, or to retain these fluids, or a combination of these properties.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A biodegradable multi-component synergistic particulate absorbent composition comprising:
 at least one particle consisting of glass-like starch having a mean particle size ranging from 80 μm to 800 μm; and   at least two distinct particles classes selected from the group consisting of:
 a first component class particle consisting of mannose containing polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, konjac gum, konjac flour, fenugreek gum, mesquite gum and aloe mannans, said first component class particle having a mean particle size ranging from 80 μm to 800 μm; 
 a second component class particle consisting of ionic polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of carboxyalkylated celluloses, oxidized celluloses, sulfated celluloses, cationic celluloses, pectin, chitosan salts, arabic gums, karaya gums, carrageenan gums, agar-agar and alginates, said second component class particle having a mean particle size ranging from 80 μm to 800 μm; and 
 a third component class particle consisting of gelling proteins or polypeptides selected from the group consisting of gelatin, albumin, fibrin, ovalbumin, polyaspartic acid, polyaspartic acid salts, casein, casein salts, whey proteins, soybean proteins, zein and gluten, said third component class particle having a mean particle size ranging from 80 μm to 800 μm; 
   
       wherein said composition is biodegradable and hypoallergenic according ASTM method D6355-8. 
     
     
         50 . The biodegradable multi-component synergistic particulate absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , exhibiting synergistic effects on absorption under load, centrifuge retention capacity or free swell capacity. 
     
     
         51 . A biodegradable multi-component synergistic particulate absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , wherein the glass-like starch is obtained from the group consisting of corn, waxy corn, wheat, waxy wheat, rice, waxy rice, potato, tapioca, high amylose content corn starch, sorghum, waxy sorghum, sago, barley, amaranth and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         52 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , wherein said ionic polysaccharides are cationic polysaccharides. 
     
     
         53 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 52 , wherein said cationic polysaccharides are selected from the group of salts consisting of chlorides, bromides, iodides, nitrates, phosphates, sulfates and organic salts. 
     
     
         54 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , wherein said ionic polysaccharides are anionic polysaccharides. 
     
     
         55 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 54 , wherein said anionic polysaccharides are selected from the group of salts consisting of sodium, lithium, potassium, and ammonium. 
     
     
         56 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , wherein said mannose containing polysaccharides are modified by procedures selected from the group consisting of hydrolysis, oxidation, covalent cross-linking, alkylation, hydroxyalkylation, carboxyalkylation and esterification. 
     
     
         57 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , wherein said ionic polysaccharides are modified by procedures selected from the group consisting of hydrolysis, oxidation, covalent cross-linking, alkylation, hydroxyalkylation, carboxyalkylation and esterification. 
     
     
         58 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , wherein said gelling proteins or polypeptides are modified by procedures selected from the group consisting of hydrolysis, oxidation, covalent cross-linking, alkylation, hydroxyalkylation, carboxyalkylation and esterification. 
     
     
         59 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , wherein said glass-like starch and said first, second and third component class have a mean particle size ranging from about 150 μm to about 600 μm. 
     
     
         60 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 49 , wherein the mean particle size of said glass-like starch and of said first, second and third component class differs by no more than 200 μm. 
     
     
         61 . A biodegradable multi-component synergistic particulate absorbent composition comprising:
 at least one particle consisting of cross-linked carboxyalkylated starch or starch maleates having a mean particle size ranging from 80 μm to 800 μm; and   at least two distinct particles classes selected from the group consisting of
 a first component class particle consisting of mannose containing polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of locust bean gum, tara gum, konjac gum, konjac flour, fenugreek gum, mesquite gum and aloe mannans, said first component class particle having a mean particle size ranging from 80 μm to 800 μm; 
 a second component class particle consisting of ionic polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of carboxyalkylated celluloses, oxidized celluloses, sulfated celluloses, cationic celluloses, pectin, chitosan salts, arabic gums, xanthan gum, karaya gums, carrageenan gums, agar-agar and alginates, said second component class particle having a mean particle size ranging from 80 μm to 800 μm; 
 a third component class particle consisting of gelling proteins or polypeptides selected from the group consisting of gelatin, albumin, fibrin, ovalbumin, polyaspartic acid, polyaspartic acid salts, casein, casein salts, whey proteins, soybean proteins, zein and gluten, said third component class particle having a mean particle size ranging from 80 μm to 800 μm; 
   
       wherein said composition is biodegradable and hypoallergenic according ASTM method D6355-8. 
     
     
         62 . A biodegradable multi-component synergistic particulate absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , exhibiting synergistic effects on absorption under load, centrifuge retention capacity or free swell capacity. 
     
     
         63 . A biodegradable multi-component synergistic particulate absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , wherein the cross-linked carboxyalkylated starch or the starch maleates is obtained from the group consisting of corn, waxy corn, wheat, waxy wheat, rice, waxy rice, potato, tapioca, high amylose content corn starch, sorghum, waxy sorghum, sago, barley, amaranth and mixture thereof. 
     
     
         64 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , wherein said ionic polysaccharides are cationic polysaccharides. 
     
     
         65 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 64 , wherein said cationic polysaccharides are selected from the group of salts consisting of chlorides, bromides, iodides, nitrates, phosphates, sulfates and organic salts. 
     
     
         66 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , wherein said ionic polysaccharides are anionic polysaccharides. 
     
     
         67 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 66 , wherein said anionic polysaccharides are selected from the group of salts consisting of sodium, lithium, potassium, and ammonium. 
     
     
         68 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , wherein said mannose containing polysaccharides are modified by procedures selected from the group consisting of hydrolysis, oxidation, covalent cross-linking, alkylation, hydroxyalkylation, carboxyalkylation and esterification. 
     
     
         69 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , wherein said ionic polysaccharides are modified by procedures selected from the group consisting of hydrolysis, oxidation, covalent cross-linking, alkylation, hydroxyalkylation, carboxyalkylation and esterification. 
     
     
         70 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , wherein said gelling proteins or polypeptides are modified by procedures selected from the group consisting of hydrolysis, oxidation, covalent cross-linking, alkylation, hydroxyalkylation, carboxyalkylation and esterification. 
     
     
         71 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , wherein said cross-linked carboxyalkylated starch or starch maleates particle and said first, second and third component class have a mean particle size ranging from about 150 μm to about 600 μm. 
     
     
         72 . A multi-component synergistic absorbent composition as defined in  claim 61 , wherein the mean particle size of said cross-linked carboxyalkylated starch or starch maleates and of said first, second and third component class differs by no more than 200 μm.