Effect of Protease Activity on a Non-aqueous Detergent System

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effect of the protease "subtilisin" on detergency in a non-aqueous detergent system, i.e., surfactant (Aerosol-OT)/isooctane/water reverse micellar system, is investigated. Gelatin is used as a model of proteinic soil and is chemically fixed on fabrics with the help of citric acid as a crosslinking agent. Highly sensitive optical determination of gelatin in the reverse micellar system is accomplished by measuring the chemisorption of dyestuff in the gelatin. Subtilisin solubilized in the interior of the reverse micelle shows excellent activity even in organic media, and there is a sufficient effect on detergency. In the practical process of removing proteinic soils from fabrics in a non-aqueous system, however, solubilization of water-soluble soils hydrolyzed by enzymatic catalysis in the interior of the reverse micelle also affects detergency.