Functionalized polymer compositions

• US 9,447,068 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novus International, Inc. (Nippon Soda Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Novus International, Inc. (Nippon Soda Company Limited)
• Inventors: Arhancet, Graciela B., Mahoney, Matthew, Wang, Xiaojun, Karnati, Rangarani
• Primary Examiner(s): Palenik, Jeffrey T
• Application Number:
  US14/937,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20160060454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/10 Organic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/10 for ruminants
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/75 for poultry
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 265/33 Two oxygen atoms, in positions 3 and 5
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 319/12 not condensed with other rings
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/6882 derived from hydroxy carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/85 Germanium, tin, lead, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, or compounds thereof C08G63/823 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 67/00 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing oxygen or oxygen and carbon, not provided for in groups C08G2/00 - C08G65/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 75/02 Polythioethers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/00 Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to functionalized polymers including homopolymers and copolymers and their uses in industrial applications and in agricultural applications. In particular, the homopolymers and copolymers may be, for example, used in polymer blends, used as nutritives and in feed compositions, and used in combination with a pharmaceutical or nutritive.

Claims

1. A composition comprising a polymer chosen from a homopolymer, a copolymer, or combinations thereof, and at least one additional polymer;

the homopolymer having an average molecular weight above about 800 Da and comprising a repeat unit of Formula (I);

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the additional polymer is chosen from polymers of acrylates, aminoacrylates, alkylene succinates, alkylene oxalates, amides, amino acids, anhydrides, arylates, carbonates, cellulose, caprolactone, cyanoacrylates, di hydropyrans, dioxanes, dioxanones, ether ether ketones, ethylene glycol, fumarates, hydroxyalkanoates, hydroxyl-esters, imides, ketals, lactides, methacrylates, methyl olefins, orthoesters, phosphazines, styrenes, terephthalates, trimethylene carbonate, urathanes, vinyl acetates, vinyl ketones, vinyl halides, derivatives, isomers, and mixtures thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the additional polymer is chosen from poly(lactide), ethyl cellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises about 5% to about 100% by weight of the homopolymer or copolymer.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the homopolymer comprises a repeat unit of Formula (III):

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the copolymer comprises a first repeat unit of Formula (III):

7. The composition of claim 5, wherein the additional polymer is chosen from poly(lactide), ethyl cellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol.

8. The composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises about 5% to about 30% by weight of the homopolymer.

9. The composition of claim 5, wherein the additional polymer is poly(lactide) and the poly(lactide) and the homopolymer are in a ratio of about 85/15 by weight.

10. The composition of claim 5, wherein the additional polymer is poly(lactide) and the poly(lactide) and the homopolymer are in a ratio of about 90/10.

11. The composition of claim 5, wherein the additional polymer is poly(lactide) and the poly(lactide) and the homopolymer are in a ratio of about 95/5.

12. A method for providing a nutritive agent to a subject, method comprising administering the nutritive agent to the subject, wherein the nutritive agent is a polymer chosen from a homopolymer, a copolymer, or combinations thereof,

the homopolymer having an average molecular weight above about 800 Da and comprising a repeat unit of Formula (I), the repeat unit of Formula (I):

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the subject is chosen from a ruminant, an avian, a monogastric, and an aquatic species.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the nutritive agent hydrolyzes after passage through the rumen.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the nutritive agent comprises methionine or a hydroxyl analog of methionine, lysine, or valeric acid.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the homopolymer comprises a repeat unit of Formula (III):

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the copolymer comprises a first repeat unit of Formula (III):

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the nutritive agent is administered orally.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the subject is an agricultural animal.