Many laundry detergents contain special enzymes that help to get laundry cleaner. Some of the most commonly used enzymes are: proteases to digest protein based stains, a-amylase to digest starch based stains, and lipases to digest fat or oil based stains. Other enzymes used in some detergents are Guardzyme (a peroxidase) to inhibit dye transfer and Carezyme to remove the fuzz that builds up on cotton clothes.

This laboratory activity is intended to allow students to investigate the effectiveness of enzymes in laundry detergents.

– Enzymes and Laundry Detergents Experiment (Microsoft Word)

– Enzymes & Laundry Detergents Experiment (Web Format)

Microsoft Word Viewer (size: 3952016 bytes) is a free utility available for download from the Microsoft WWW site.

References

Biotechnology Works: Industrial Enzymes

Biotech Enzyme Products on the Market

Directed Evolution of Industrial Enzymes.

Dave Estell, Genencor International. Session talk at the BIO’99 International Biotechnology Meeting and Exhibition in Seattle, WA on May 17, 1999.

New Enzyme Activities.

Glenn Nedwin, Novo Nordisk Biotech, Inc.. Session talk at the BIO’99 International Biotechnology Meeting and Exhibition in Seattle, WA on May 17, 1999.