Detergency and mechanism of soil removal in detergent-enzyme system

Enzyme effects on detergency were studied at a relatively low temperature (20 C) using naturally solied fabrics (collars on working clothing) and 2 types of artificially soiled cotton cloths, milk-soiled and carbon-milk-soiled. Results of the test showed that protease has a favorable effect on detergency even at 20 C and improves the removal of common soils solid or oily, as well as protein-based soils. The protease also was proved fully effective under mechanical agitation in the presence of detergents. Futhermore, the role of enzyme was discussed based upon gel filtration of the washing bath which treated the milk-soiled cloths. The degradation of protein by protease to a molecular weight of ca. 10,000 to 50,000 was proved to be fairly important for removal of soil protein. It also was found that endo-peptidase action is more effective than exo-peptidase action. Based upon these findings, a problem in activity evaluation method for enzymes as detergent compoments also was presented.