water - soluble polymers that thicken reversibly in aqueous solution on alteration of the degree of alkalinity are manufactured by treating an aqueous suspension of protein with the enzymes elaborated extracellularly by a species of the genus pseudomonas . the water soluble polymers resulting therefrom are biodegradable . they are useful for stabilizing emulsions , as flow - control agents in water base paint , and as anti - redeposition agents in laundry detergents . they are particularly useful as coagulants for colloidal suspensions of solids such as the phosphate slimes byproduct of the large scale hydraulic mining of the phosphate deposits . they are also particularly useful as flow control agents in the water flooding process for the recovery of petroleum .