Galactomannan compositions and methods for making and using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for depolymerizing galactomannan and derivatives thereof. The present invention relates to compositions comprising galactomannan and derivatives thereof prepared according to the methods of this invention and uses for the compositions. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising hydroxypropylgalactomannan having a specific polydispersity index, weight average molecular weight and viscosity in solution.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A composition comprising hydroxypropylgalactomannan (HPG), wherein the HPG has a weight average molecular weight between approximately 75,000 to 500,000 and a PDI in the range of 1-8.  
     
     
         24 . The composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the HPG has a weight average molecular weight between 75,000 to 250,000.  
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the HPG has a weight average molecular weight between 150,000 to 225,000.  
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 25 , wherein the PDI is in the range of 2-6.  
     
     
         27 . The composition according to  claim 26 , wherein the PDI is in the range of 2-3.  
     
     
         28 . The composition according to  claim 27 , wherein the HPG is derived from galactomannan selected from the group consisting of guar galactomannan, locust bean galactomannan, tara galactomannan, and cassia toria galactomannan.  
     
     
         29 . The composition according to  claim 28 , wherein the HPG is derived from guar galactomannan.  
     
     
         30 . The composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the HPG has a molar substitution of 0.01-0.8.  
     
     
         31 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the HPG has a molar substitution of 0.2-0.6.  
     
     
         32 . The composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the composition has a viscosity in the range of 5 to 250 cP in a 2.5% solution.  
     
     
         33 . The composition according to  claim 32 , wherein the viscosity of the composition is in the range of 10-100 cP in a 2.5% solution.  
     
     
         34 . The composition according to  claim 33 , wherein the viscosity of the composition is in the range of 20-40 cP in a 2.5% solution.  
     
     
         35 . The composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the water content of the composition does not exceed 25% of the weight of solids in the composition.  
     
     
         36 . The composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the water content of the composition does not exceed 15% of the weight of solids in the composition.  
     
     
         37 . The composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the composition further comprises a cleaving agent in the range of 1-5 ppm.  
     
     
         38 . The composition according to  claim 37 , wherein the cleaving agent is hydrogen peroxide.  
     
     
         39 . A composition prepared by a method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) spraying substantially dry galactomannan or derivatized galactomannan with a liquid cleaving agent, wherein said substantially dry galactomannan or derivatized galactomannan has less than 15% water content by weight; and    (b) mixing said galactomannan or derivatized galactomannan and the cleaving    wherein said galactomannan or derivatized galactomannan is the major solid component by weight in the mixing step and the moisture content of the mixture during the mixing step is not more than 15% of the weight of said dry galactomannan or derivatized galactomannan,    wherein said derivatized galactomannan is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylguar (HPG), carboxymethylguar (CMG), hydroxyethyl guar (HEG), carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar (CMHPG), hydroxybutyl guar (HBG), cationic guar, hydrophobically modified guar (HMG), hydrophobically modified carboxymethylguar (HMCMG), hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylguar (HMHEG), hydrophobically modified hydroxypropylguar (HMHPG), hydrophobically modified carboxymethylhydroxypropylguar (HMCMHPG), hydrophobically modified hydroxybutyl guar (HMHBG), and hydrophobically modified cationic guar (HMCG).    
     
     
         40 . The composition according to  claim 39 , wherein the galactomannan or derivative thereof in the composition has a weight average molecular weight between 75,000 to 500,000.  
     
     
         41 . The composition according to  claim 40 , wherein the galactomannan or derivative thereof in the composition has a weight average molecular weight between 150,000 to 225,000.  
     
     
         42 . The composition according to  claim 39 , wherein the PDI of the galactomannan or derivative thereof in the composition is in the range of 2-6.  
     
     
         43 . The composition according to  claim 42 , wherein the PDI is in the range of 2-3.  
     
     
         44 . The composition according to  claim 39 , wherein the galactomannan or derivative thereof is derived from galactomannan selected from the group consisting of guar galactomannan, locust bean galactomannan, tara galactomannan, and cassia toria galactomannan.  
     
     
         45 . The composition according to  claim 44 , wherein the derivatized galactomannan is HPG having a molar substitution of 0.01-0.8.  
     
     
         46 . The composition according to  claim 45 , wherein the HPG has a molar substitution of 0.2-0.6.  
     
     
         47 . The composition according to  claim 39 , wherein the composition has a viscosity in the range of 5 to 250 cP in a 2.5% solution.  
     
     
         48 . The composition according to  claim 47 , wherein the viscosity of the composition is in the range of 10-100 cP in a 2.5% solution.  
     
     
         49 . The composition according to  claim 48 , wherein the viscosity of the composition is in the range of 20-40 cP in a 2.5% solution.  
     
     
         50 - 51 . (canceled)  
     
     
         52 . The composition according to  claim 39 , wherein the cleaving agent is present in the range of 1-5 ppm.  
     
     
         53 . The composition according to  claim 52 , wherein the cleaving agent is hydrogen peroxide.  
     
     
         54 - 55 . (canceled)