Detergent enzymes: Developments during the last decade

The decade of the seventies saw dramatic changes in the formulation of heavy duty laundry detergents. The reduction in the STPP content in laundry product formulations was a notable example. During the early 1970s, heavy duty liquid laundry detergents were introduced and today represent an estimated 20% of the heavy duty laundry detergent market. A significant trend during this decade toward lower wash temperatures also appeared. These developments in home laundry products and washing trends have been followed by collateral developments in detergent enzyme technology. During the 1970s, a new generation of high alkaline, active detergent enzymes were developed. This new group of alkaline proteases were characterized by greater activity and stability under conditions of alkalinity between pH 10.5 to near 12, thus favoring phosphate-free detergent formulations. These enzymes also were found to exhibit superior stability in nonbuilt liquid laundry detergent systems. Safety considerations at the plant operation level have resulted in a continual improvement in the quality of coated and encapsulated detergent enzyme granulates. During the past 10 years, detergent enzymes have passed through three generations of physical forms, from the powders to prills to encapsulates. The decade of the 1980s offers exciting possibilities for enzymatic laundry products. The trend toward lower wash temperatures, caused initially by the popularity of synthetic fabrics, is being compounded by a radical reappraisal of household energy consumption patterns. In this new atmosphere of energy conservation, detergent enzymes will offer energy-saving options in an assortment of laundry products. Finally, as we start this decade of the 1980s, the spiralling cost of petrochemical feedstocks will cause us to rethink laundry product formulations and here again, detergent enzymes offer an important alternative for the future.