Abstract: A method is provided for treating a hypersensitivity disease comprising parenterally administering to a human afflicted with such a disease an amount of an anionic polymer effective to counteract the symptoms of a disease selected from the group consisting of bronchial asthma, eosinophil-associated nasal inflammation and vernal conjunctivitis, by counteracting the effect of at least one cationic toxin released by the eosinophils of said human.

Abstract: This invention relates to enhancing plant productivity employing a method which supplies to a plant a water-soluble co-polymeric acid having a molecular size larger than about 1,600 Daltons.

Abstract: This invention relates to enhancing plant productivity employing a method and improved compositions containing water-soluble amino acid co-polymers having a molecular size larger than about 1,500 Daltons.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a desired molecular weight polysuccinimide by the catalytic polymerization of aspartic acid in the presence of a cyclic carbonate solvent. Polysuccinimide of relatively high weight average molecular weight and high purity can be produced in relatively high yields while employing a relatively low catalyst loading.

Abstract: An insecticide composition is enhanced from the standpoint of its ability to be absorbed by insects, such as red fire ants, particularly dithiophosphate ester pesticides by the addition of a small amount of a water soluble non-aromatic polyorganic acid or salt form thereof such as polyaspartic acid, particularly preferred with a molecular weight in the range of about 3000 to 40,000.

Abstract: Polysuccinimide is produced by thermal polymerization of a precursor or a reactant admixture that includes an unsaturated compound in a plate-type reactor at temperatures sufficient to initiate polymerization and to form a brittle solid. The so-obtained polysuccinimide can be hydrolyzed to polyaspartic acidor to a polyaspartic acid salt, if desired. The precursor can be a monomer or a mixture of reactants that form polymerizable intermediates.

Abstract: Seedling development is enhanced by applying to the seeds, for example corn and soybeans, a water-soluble, non-aromatic polyamino acid such as polyaspartic acid. Time to germination is decreased, and rate of seedling development is increased. The composition may be applied to the seeds with a liquid or solid carrier or in combination with other seed treatments, such as nutrients and pesticides.

Abstract: An insecticide composition is enhanced from the standpoint of its ability to be absorbed by insects, such as red fire ants, particularly dithiophosphate ester pesticides by the addition of a small amount of a water soluble non-aromatic polyorganic acid or salt form thereof such as polyaspartic acid, particularly preferred with a molecular weight in the range of about 3000 to 40,000.

Abstract: A herbicide composition which comprises a herbicide and a small but herbicide absorption enhancing effective amount of a water soluble, non-aromatic polyorganic acid or a salt or copolymer thereof such as polyaspartic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of producing super absorbing polymeric networks of polyaspartates from crosslinked polysuccinimide. In one preferred method aspect, polysuccinimide is first reacted with an organic crosslinking agent, preferably an organic base containing at least two primary amine groups to form crosslinked polysuccinimide. The crosslinked polysuccinimide is then hydrolyzed to a polymeric network of polyaspartate which demonstrates super absorbing capability in water and in saline solution. Alternative method aspects are disclosed in which super absorbing polymeric networks of polyaspartates are produced in a single reaction vessel by sequentially crosslinking polysuccinimide with organic crosslinking agent in an aqueous reaction mixture and then hydrolyzing the reaction product to produce a polymeric network of polyaspartate.

Abstract: Polyaspartic acid and its salts ms used as a carbon dioxide corrosion inhibitor for ferrous metal surfaces in contact with a substantially acidic corrosive aqueous saline environment. In particular, carbon dioxide corrosion of mild steel in brine substantially free of dissolved oxygen can be effectively inhibited under mild to moderate dynamic flow use conditions by relatively low concentrations of polyaspartic acid.

Abstract: Water-soluble polyorganic acids having a molecular size of more than 1,500 Daltons enhance plant fertilizer uptake when supplied to the plant, usually in the root feeding zone or through foliar mechanisms. Particularly suitable for this purpose are the polyamino acids such as polyaspartic acid and copolymers thereof.

Abstract: A method of preserving cut flowers such as roses, tulips, carnations and mums, by the insertion of the freshly cut stems of cut flowers in a solution of a water-soluble polyamino organic acid, preferably polyaspartic acid. The life of a flower, as it appears healthy and viable without stem bending or senescence of the flower itself, is substantially prolonged, in many cases two to three times longer than untreated flowers.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of producing high molecular weight, soluble, crosslinked polyaspartates from crosslinked polysuccinimide. In one preferred method aspect, polysuccinimide is first reacted with an organic crosslinking agent, preferably an organic base containing at least two primary amine groups to form a crosslinked polysuccinimide. The crosslinked polysuccinimide is then hydrolyzed to crosslinked polyaspartate which is soluble in polar solvents, preferably water, alcohol and mixtures thereof. Alternative method aspects are disclosed in which soluble crosslinked polyaspartates are produced in a single reaction vessel by sequentially crosslinking polysuccinimide with the organic crosslinking agent in an aqueous reaction mixture and hydrolyzing the product to crosslinked polyaspartate.

Abstract: Low-color polyaspartate homopolymers, copolymers or homopolymer/copolymer mixtures and the metal salts thereof, are produced by the oxidative, hydrolysis of polysuccinimide homopolymers, copolymers or homopolymer/copolymer mixtures, and metal salts thereof, in the presence of selected chlorine-free, non-chromogenic oxygen containing oxidizing agents. The preferred oxidizing agents are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, potassium percarbonate, sodium perborate tetrahydrate, sodium perborate monohydrate, sodium periodate, potassium periodate and peroxycarboxylic acids. The advantage of the claimed process is that low-color polyaspartates can be produced without the addition of further processing steps beyond the hydrolysis of the polysuccinimide presursor. Solid, low-color polyaspartates are obtained by evaporating to dryness the polyaspartate solutions obtained after oxidative hydrolysis.

Abstract: Polysuccinimide of varying molecular weight has been prepared by heat polymerization of aspartic acid in the presence of a sulfur-containing dehydrating agent employing a variety of reaction mixtures and reaction conditions. Sulfur trioxide and heat decomposable sulfur trioxide precursor dehydrating agents are preferred for this purpose. The presence of an acid scavenger within the reaction mixture is desirable and leads to a relatively higher molecular weight polysuccinimide, while the absence of an acid scavenger results in a relatively lower molecular weight polysuccinimide.

Abstract: Polysuccinimide is prepared by reacting an unsaturated C.sub.2 dicarboxylic acid or anhydride thereof, e.g., maleic acid, fumaric acid, and maleic anhydride, with a particulate ammonium salt that is thermally decomposable to liberate ammonia. The reaction is carried out at a temperature which is above the thermal decomposition temperature of the ammonium salt and for a time period which is sufficient for the acid or anhydride to react with the ammonia liberated from the ammonium salt and for polymerization to occur. The present method avoids the prior art problems of controlling ammonia losses and water removal. The product polysuccinimide can be readily hydrolyzed to polyaspartic acid or a salt thereof, if desired.

Abstract: Aspartic acid precursors such as mono and diammonium maleate, maleamic acid, ammonium maleamate, ammonium malate and mixtures of these and other precursors are copolycondensed thermally with a variety of mono, di and multifunctional monomers containing amino, hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups. The resulting condensation copolymers and terpolymers contain succinimide units derived from aspartic acid precursors, condensed with other functional group monomers usually though amide and ester linkages. Hydrolysis of the polysuccinimide copolymers and terpolymers with alkali, alkaline earth and ammonium hydroxide produces aspartic acid copolymer and terpolymer salts.

Abstract: Polysuccinimide is prepared by reacting ammonia gas with liquid maleic anhydride. The reaction is initially carried out at a temperature which is above the melting point of the maleic anhydride but below the boiling point of liquid maleic anhydride for a time period sufficient for the liquid maleic anhydride to react with the ammonia gas to form a reaction product thereof. The reaction product is subsequently polymerized to polysuccinimide. The present method avoids the prior art problems of water removal and minimizes the need for ammonia handling equipment. The polysuccinimide product can be readily hydrolyzed to polyaspartic acid or a salt thereof, if desired.

Abstract: Polyaspartic acid is produced by hydrolysis of anhydropolyaspartic acid that has been produced by thermal condensation polymerization of L-aspartic acid. Conversion in excess of 80 percent is achievable utilizing "temperature vs. time" profiles.