Enzyme resistance and biostability of hydroxyalkylated cellulose and galactomannan as thickeners in waterborne paints

► Enzyme resistance and biostability of hydroxyalkylated cellulose and guar were compared. ► The higher the MS, the lesser viscosity decrease is caused by specific enzymes. ► A fungal consortium causes a more rapid fall in viscosity of HEC than of HPG. ► The property of “biostability” is thus not equivalent to “enzyme resistance”. ► We propose a new and more accurate definition of “biostability”.