Hard‐Surface Cleaning Using Lipases: Enzyme–Surfactant Interactions and Washing Tests

Abstract

A commercial lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3) from Thermomyces lanuginosus was studied in order to assess its interaction with commercial nonionic (Findet Ò 1214N/16, Findet 1214N/23 and Glucopon Ò 650) and anionic (linear alkylbenzene sulphonate; LAS) surfactants, as well as the cleaning action exerted by the enzyme on hard surfaces. Nonionic surfactants seem to prevent or delay enzyme penetration at the interface, thereby decreasing lipase activity. Notably, no inhibitory effect of the anionic surfactant LAS on lipase action was found, higher conversions being achieved after 20 min of enzymatic hydrolysis in the presence of this surfactant than in its absence. A device for testing detersive performance, the so-called bath-substrateflow, was used in washing experiments with the lipase at different temperatures with or without surfactant. Employing two different oily stains (tributyrin and triolein), it was found that the lipase by itself increases detergency significantly, preventing the subsequent redeposition of the removed dirt. Expressions relating detersive efficiency to lipase concentration and temperature were obtained using ''Statistical Design of Experiments'' methodology.

Cold active lipases – an update

“…Lipases improve the washing capability of detergents towards the fatty food stains from fabrics which are difficult to go off during normal washing conditions (Andree et al 1980). An ideal detergent enzyme should be stable at alkaline pH and active in the presence of surfactants (Jurado et al 2007). It should withstand oxidizing and chelating agents, which are used in detergents as active oxygen bleach and builder (Wang et al 1995).…”

Wetting Power in Aqueous Mixtures of Alkylpolyglucosides and Ethoxylated Fatty Alcohols

“…Nowadays, the use of non-ionic surfactants such as alkylpolyglucosides and ethoxylated fatty alcohols is steadily increasing because they are not only readily biodegradable and highly efficient on fatty soils [9] but also come from renewable sources. Alkylpolyglucosides are non-ionic surfactants with excellent ecological and toxicological properties [10] and interesting interfacial properties [11].…”

Biochemical properties of the alkaline lipase of Bacillus flexus XJU-1 and its detergent compatibility

“…Indeed, when the pH environment changes, the solubility and the structural stability of the enzyme also change owing to the variation of the total net charge of the enzymes and the distribution of charges on their exterior surfaces. In addition, a significant lipolytic activity at alkaline pH is advantageous, since the fabric washing is generally conducted at alkaline pH, where most of the products resulted from oil stain digestion by the lipases are more soluble (Jurado et al 2007;Hasan et al 2010).…”

“…The stability of the present alkaline lipase in the presence of these agents suggested its use as a detergent component. A significant stability of the detergent lipases in the presence of surfactants was ascribed to the ability of these emulsifying agents to solubilize the lipolysis products, preventing their interfacial accumulation (Jurado et al 2007). …”

“…7). The maintenance of the initial activity of an alkaline lipase in the detergent can be attributed to the detergent ingredients that increase the accessibility of the lipase to the substrate by favouring the emulsification, maintaining the interfacial properties, and by solubilisation of the lipolysis prod- ucts (Jurado et al 2007). The alkaline lipase purified from Bacillus sp.…”