Biology:Detergent enzymes
Detergent enzymes are biological enzymes that are used with detergents. They catalyze the reaction between stains and the water solution, thus aiding stain removal and improving efficiency.[1] Laundry detergent enzymes are the largest application of industrial enzymes.[2]
They can be a part of both liquid and powder detergents.
History
Otto Röhm introduced the use of enzymes in detergent by using trypsin extracted from the tissues of slaughtered animals. Röhm's formula, though more successful than German household cleaning methods, was considered unstable when used with alkali and bleach.[clarification needed] In 1959, yields were improved by microbial synthesis of proteases.[3]
Properties
Laundry enzymes must be able to function normally in a wide array of conditions: water temperatures ranging from 0 to 60 °C; alkaline and acidic environments; solutions with high ionic strength; and the presence of surfactants or oxidizing agents.[4][2]
Types
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The five classes of enzymes found in laundry detergent include proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, and mannanases. They break down proteins (e.g. in blood and egg stains), starch, fats, cellulose (e.g. in vegetable puree), and mannans (e.g. in bean gum stains) respectively.[2]
Merits
Household energy savings
For stain removal, conventional household washing machines use heated water, as this increases the solubility of stains. However, heating the water to the required temperature uses a considerable amount of energy; energy usage can be reduced by using detergent enzymes which perform well in cold water, allowing low-temperature washes and removing the need for heated water.[5]
Delicate materials
Clothes made of delicate materials such as wool and silk can be damaged in high-temperature washes, and jeans and denim can fade due to their dark dyes. Low-temperature washes with detergent enzymes can prevent this damage, meaning that consumers can buy clothes from a wider range of materials without worrying about damaging them during washing.[5]
Leather manufacturing
The leather industry was historically considered noxious due to the leather-making process. The traditional procedure involved soaking animal hides in a mixture of urine and lime to remove unwanted hairs, flesh and fat, then kneading them in dog or pigeon feces with bare feet. The subsequent discharge and refuse disposal was severely hazardous to both human health and the environment because of the high amounts of concentrated sulfide and chromium in the effluence.[6]
This method was eventually discarded by the industry in the early 20th century following Röhm's discovery, replaced by a more eco-friendly process involving detergent enzymes.[5] Consequently, hazardous sodium sulfide (used to remove animal hair from hides) usage is lessened by 60%, while water usage for soaking and hair cutting is lowered by 25%. Additionally, toxic pollution and emissions have been reduced by 30%. These enzymes have never completely substituted the industrial chemicals. Nevertheless, the working conditions, wastewater quality, and processing times have been greatly improved.[6]
Replacement for phosphate and synthetic surfactants
Increased legislation has led to a limit on the laundry detergent industry's use of environmentally-unfriendly synthetic surfactants and phosphate salts. In a bid to produce more environmentally-friendly products, several detergent manufacturers have increased their use of enzymes in the production process in combination with lower concentrations of the surfactants and phosphates. These biologically active enzymes include bacteria, yeast, and mushrooms,[7] which produce less chemical pollution and decompose certain toxicants.[8]
Public concerns
Damage to delicate materials
In contrast to the benefits of low-temperature washing, a study of the effects of detergent enzymes on untreated knit and woolen fabrics showed damage proportional to both soaking time and the enzyme concentration.[9]
Skin allergy and testing
Consumers' responses to detergent enzymes have varied. It is reported that some Philippines consumers who are used to laundering by hand slightly suffered from powder detergents, which mainly consisted of laundry enzyme formulations. As a result, it was thought that laundry enzymes have the potential to increase the likelihood of getting occupational type 1 allergic responses.[10] However, a large-scale skin prick test (SPT) containing 15,765 volunteers with 8 different types of detergent enzymes found that the allergy reaction is extremely rare among the public, with only 0.23% showing a reaction.[11] The issue in Filipino consumers is believed to be the rushed hand-laundering method.[10] After various tests with several volunteers worldwide, it is found that exposure to laundry enzymes leads to neither skin allergy (Type I sensitization) nor skin erosion.[10][11]
References
- ↑ "The role of enzymes in detergent products". November 8, 2021. https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/sites/default/files/documents/Enzymes-factsheet.pdf.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kirk, Ole; Borchert, Torben; Fuglsang, Claus (1 August 2002). "Industrial enzyme applications". Current Opinion in Biotechnology 13 (4): 345–351. doi:10.1016/s0958-1669(02)00328-2. PMID 12323357.
- ↑ Leisola, Matti; Jokela, Jouni; Pastinen, Ossi; Turunen, Ossi; Schoemaker, Hans. "INDUSTRIAL USE OF ENZYMES". Physiology and Maintenance II: 2–3. https://www.eolss.net/Sample-Chapters/C03/E6-54-02-10.pdf.
- ↑ Yim, Joung Han; Lee, Jun Hyuck; Koo, Bon-Hun; Kim, Jung Eun; Han, Se Jong; Do, Hackwon; Kim, Dockyu; Lee, Chang Woo et al. (2018-02-21). "Crystal structure of a cold-active protease (Pro21717) from the psychrophilic bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas arctica PAMC 21717, at 1.4 Å resolution: Structural adaptations to cold and functional analysis of a laundry detergent enzyme" (in en). PLOS ONE 13 (2): e0191740. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191740. ISSN 1932-6203. PMID 29466378. Bibcode: 2018PLoSO..1391740P.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Enzymes in Biological Detergents – The Facts About Laundry Detergents and How They Work" (in en). https://www.persil.com/uk/laundry/laundry-tips/washing-tips/enzymes-in-biological-detergents-the-facts-about-laundry-detergents-and-how-they-work.html.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "From excrement to enzyme: How biotech helped clean up leather production – Rethink Tomorrow". http://blog.novozymes.com/from-excrement-to-enzyme-how-biotech-helped-clean-up-leather-production/.
- ↑ Waldhoff, Heinrich; Spilker, Rudiger, eds (2016-04-19). Handbook Of Detergents, Part C. doi:10.1201/9781420030334. ISBN 9780429132605.
- ↑ Gaubert, Alexandra; Jeudy, Jérémy; Rougemont, Blandine; Bordes, Claire; Lemoine, Jérôme; Casabianca, Hervé; Salvador, Arnaud (2016-07-01). "Identification and absolute quantification of enzymes in laundry detergents by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry" (in en). Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 408 (17): 4669–4681. doi:10.1007/s00216-016-9550-8. ISSN 1618-2650. PMID 27098933.
- ↑ Friedman, Mendel (April 1971). "Effect of Enzymes and Enzyme-Containing Detergent On Strength of Untreated Woolen Fabrics" (in en). Textile Research Journal 41 (4): 315–318. doi:10.1177/004051757104100405. ISSN 0040-5175.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 SARLO, K; CORMIER, E; MACKENZIE, D; SCOTT, L (January 1996). "749 Lack of type I sensitization to laundry enzymes among consumers in the Philippines". Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 97 (1): 370. doi:10.1016/s0091-6749(96)80967-5. ISSN 0091-6749.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Sarlo, Katherine; Kirchner, Donald B.; Troyano, Esperanza; Smith, Larry A.; Carr, Gregory J.; Rodriguez, Carlos (May 2010). "Assessing the risk of type 1 allergy to enzymes present in laundry and cleaning products: Evidence from the clinical data". Toxicology 271 (3): 87–93. doi:10.1016/j.tox.2010.03.007. ISSN 0300-483X. PMID 20223268.
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