Laundry amylases

A.mylases. Commercial laundry amylases comprise the a-amylase from bacillus amyloliquefaciens and the heat-stable a-amylase from bacillus licheniformis. 

Alpha-amylases are characterized by attacking the starch polymer in an endo fashion, randomly cleaving internal 1,4-bonds to yield shorter, water-soluble dextrins. They are the preferred type of amylase for laundry detergents, and are included in both powder and Hquid formulations in many countries. 

Bacterial a-amylases used in laundry detergents are fully compatible with detergent proteases, ie, the two enzymes work together in the wash process. During storage in both powder and Hquid detergents, the amylases are very stable in the presence of proteases. 

A typical enzymatic stone-washing process (76) is as follows load garments into industrial laundry machine, add water, and heat to 50—60°C. Adjust pH to 6.0 with acetic acid or buffer. Desize garment with a-amylase for 10—15 min, and drain water. Add new water, heat to 55—60°C, adjust pH to 6.5—7.0, and add ceUulase. Tumble for 20—90 min, drain, rinse twice, and dry. 

Amylase facilitates the removal of starch-containing stains such as those from pasta, potato, gravy, chocolate, and baby food. Dried-up starch is difficult to remove from medium- to low temperatures. Amylase adheres to the surface of laundry, acting as an adhesive for other stain components. Starch acts as a kind of glue which binds particulate soil to the surface. Amylase hydrolyzes the starch into dextrins and oligosaccharides the latter are readily dissolved in the washing liquor and thus successively diminish the stain. Likewise, dried-on food, in particular stains and films from starch-containing foods, may be difficult to remove in a dishwasher. 

Just like laundry detergents, modem automatic dishwashing detergents (ADDs) usually contain an amylase. 

Starch also is very often present on laundry fabrics from the deliberate application of starch during fabric production. Complete removal of starch from cotton fibers is extremely difficult to achieve without detergent amylases. 

Laundry detergents proteases, cellulases, lipases, amylases... 

An example of a type I reaction is the use of enzymes such as proteases or amylases in laundry detergents however, this enzyme reaction has caused some controversy in relation to water pollution. Once in solution, the soluble enzyme may digest (i.e., break down) an insoluble substrate such as a blood stain, A major research effort is currently being directed at type II reactions. By attaching active enzyme groups to solid surfaces, continuous processing units similar to the packed catalytic bed reactor discussed in Chapter 10 can be developed. 

Starch glue (dirt binding) hydrolysis during laundry wash Alpha amylase... 

Maxamyl . [IntT. Bio-Syndiedcs] Alpha-amylase enzyme fx laundry detergents, starch processing. 

T rmamyl . [Novo Nordisk] Alpha-amylase heat-stable enzyme for starch liquefaction, for laundry and dishwash detergents, alcohol, brewing, and textile industries. 

Protease-containing liquid aqueous detergents are well known, especially in the context of laundry washing, where they attack protein-based stains. A commonly encountered problem in such protease-containing liquid aqueous detergents is the degradation second enzymes (e.g., lipase, amylase, and cellu-lase, or protease itself) by the proteolytic enzyme in the composition. As a... 

Enzymes are used as ingredients in laundry and dishwashing detergents to improve their efficiency. Their functional efficiency depends on the detergent s components, type of stain to be removed, water temperature, and hardness. Major enzymes used for this purpose are proteases, amylases, lipases, and cellulases. Proteases, which are the most widely used enzymes in the detergent industry, enhance the breakdown... 

However, when platinum (Pt) is used as a catalyst, the reaction occurs rapidly. In the body, biocatalysts called enzymes make most metabolic reactions proceed at rates necessary for proper cellular activity. Enzymes are added to laundry detergents to break down proteins (proteases), starches (amylases), or greases (lipases) that have stained clothes. Such enzymes function at the low temperatures that are used in home washing machines, and they are biodegradable as well. 

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