Hydrolase Surfactant Systems and their use in Laundering

The hydrolysis inhibiting activity of surfactants is suppressed or eliminated by the presence of a non-charged hydrolysis activator, such as a lipophilic compound, whose amount varies with the type of lipase and/or surfactant. Hydrolase-based detergent compositions and laundry additive compositions are formulated having effective oily stain and soil removing activity and effective in surfactant-containing laundry water. The resulting compositions are hydrolytically active in all conventional, surfactant-containing aqueous environments, such as laundering solutions.

The invention relates to hydrolase enzyme compositions and methods for removing oily stains from fabrics including a method for rendering surfactant-containing hydrolase enzymatic laundry compositions and solutions optimally operable. The inactivation of the hydrolase enzyme by surfactant is prevented by the presence of a non-charged enzyme activating means including oily hydrocarbons, hydrolyzable fatty acid ester substrates for the enzyme, e.g., triglycerides, essentially lipophilic organic compounds which are not substrates for the enzyme and which bear a polar substituent, and non-ionic surfactants which lower the oil to enzyme critical minimum molar ratio required to activate the enzyme.

This technology is patented - relates to a family of patents describing detergent compositions.

Girish Nallur, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Competitive Technologies, Inc.
This email address is protected, Javascript must be enabled to view it
Tel: 203.368.6044