Detergent enzymes powder formulations

Until the end of the sixties enzyme products such as the detergent proteases were just powder products. Today very few powdered-enzyme products remain. All detergent enzyme products from the larger enzyme suppliers arc either hquid formulations or granulated and further protected by coatings. Today formulation techniques really have become a science with MAC-values in production facilities of 10-100 nanogram/m air. It is further recommended that the use of such safe enzyme products shall be planned such that the liquid enzyme product is not spilled and allowed to diy and aerosol formation shall be prevented. With these simple rules in mind, industrial enzymes arc very safe. 

Monoesterquats based on dimethylethanolamine [94] have been suggested in a number of patent applications for use in granular detergents, in the presence of other additives like anionic, nonionic, or zwitterionic surfactants, enzymes, various soil release polymers, and hydrophobic bleach additives. These compositions showed improved detergency on specific stains [82,95-101]. Esterquat-containing formulations for detergent compositions (powder, liquid, or tablet) are described [102]. 

While enzymes have played a role in powder detergents in the U.S. market over the years, more recently they have started to emerge as additives in LADD formulations. Both proteases and amylases have appeared in LADDs in spite of the fact that, unlike powders, oxygen bleaches could not be incorporated for stain removal. They first appeared in bottled liquid/gel products in 2000 in the U.S. These were introduced as premium products, with dual enzymes, and captured about 5% of the total automatic dishwashing market. 

Enzymes have been in detergent formulations since the 1960s [20]. A few years later, enymes made their appearance in the prewash patent literature [21,22]. At first, enzymes were only found in powdered or solid products. These products worked very well against protein-based stains. At that time, the enzymes could not be placed in aqueous formulations without decomposing. With advances made in enzyme synthesis technology, enzymes can now be placed in liquid detergent formulations and prespotters. Today, enzymes are widely found in prespot formulations. 

Traditionally, powdered and liqnid laundry detergents contained linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, ether sulfates, and alcohol ethoxylates as surfactants, along with builders, enzymes, polymers, and possibly bleaches as additional active ingredients. These formulations dealt weU with different types of dirt and stains under a variety of water conditions. 

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