Laundry detergent enzymes

Besides laundry detergents, enzymes are also introduced more frequently in automatic dishwashing detergents (ADD). Proteases and especially amylases are obviously useful to those formulations, where they facilitate the removal of the leftover food material such as gravy, egg, tomato sauce, chocolate, and so forth during use of an automatic dishwasher. 

The new Uquid laundry detergents, with no phosphates, have developed a use for alkan olamines. In nonenzyme formulations, they contribute alkalinity, pH control, and enhanced product stabiUty. In enzyme products, alkan olamines contribute to the stabiUty of the enzyme in water solutions (107). 

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 powdered soap-based laundry detergent contains 44% tallow soap, 18% sodium salt of a-sulfonated 1 1 methyl stearate-methyl palmitate mixture, 9% sodium silicate, 10% Na2S04, 2.5% ethoxylated cocoethanolamide, 1.4 cellulose, 0.2% fluorescent whitener, 0.7% enzyme, 0.5% perfume, and 5% water [77]. 

Choose acids or alkalis to render the optimum pH for best performance of surfactants and enzymes (typically 6-8 for dishwashing liquids, 9.5-11 for laundry detergents, and 8-12 for allpurpose household cleaners). 

In order to prove enzyme engineering feasibility, it was important to develop a model system. One of the prime considerations for any model would be the commercial potential of the model. Table I lists the major commercial enzymes and the market size in US dollars (5). The alkaline proteases (subtilisins) are clearly the major single class of enzymes in commercial use today, representing 25% of the total enzyme market of 600 million. The primary use of subtilisins is as additives in laundry detergents to aid in the removal of proteinaceous stains from cloth. 

MW 27,500) with no cofactors or metal ions reqnirement for its function, it displays Michaelis-Menten kinetics and it is secreted in large amounts by a wide variety of Bacillus species. Subtilisin is also among the most important industrial enzymes due to its use in laundry detergents. Protein engineering strategies for subtilisin have focused on a number of aspects, namely catalysis, substrate specificity, thermal and oxidative stability and pH profile. We will describe briefly each of these aspects. 

Enzymes. The most substantial advance in textile cleansing since the introduction of synthetic detergents has occurred through the introduction of low levels of enzymes into laundry detergent and presoak products. Both proteolytic and amylolylic enzymes are used by the industry to hydro yz.e protein and starch so that the smaller soil fragments are easier to remove. They are effective on stains with protein and carbohydrate substituents (such as body soils, many food stains, grass stains, blood, and many others). Enzymes are catalytic and specific and thus must be used at low levels in... 

Rohm Company Darmstadt, 1st laundry detergent with enzyme... 

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