Patent ID: 7893154

Claim:
A curable aqueous composition comprising an adduct of: (a) a carbohydrate polymer, and (b) a multi-functional crosslinking agent selected from a group consisting of monomeric polybasic acid, salt thereof, anhydride thereof, and mixtures thereof, wherein the adduct is prepared in a process comprising directly combining (a) and (b) in a weight ratio of (a):(b) of from 95:5 to about 35:65, wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, succinic acid, glutaric acid, malic acid, phthalic acid, oxalic acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, aspartic acid, phthalic anhydride, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the curable aqueous composition has a pH adjusted with a nitrogenous base.