Polyether polycarboxylate compositions useful as detergent builders

This invention provides polyether polycarboxylate compositions selected from the group consisting of polyether polycarboxylates which may be prepared by oxidizing copolymers of furan and maleic anhydride, and other polyether polycarboxylate compositions prepared by oxidizing novel, intermediate polymers of furan, maleic anhydride, and at least one copolymerizable comonomer, selected from the group consisting of furan, alkenyl alkyl ethers, alkyl acrylates, alkenyl carboxyalkyl ethers, vinyl esters of carboxylic acids, unsaturated carboxylic acids, unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and their anhydrides and esters, and olefins. This invention also provides novel, unoxidized terpolymer intermediates comprising furan, maleic anhydride, and at least one copolymerizable comonomer, other than furan and maleic anhydride, selected from the above group, as well as a process for oxidizing these polymers and the furan and maleic anhydride copolymers. These compositions are useful as builders and as anti-redeposition agents in detergents.