Boric Acid Protease Stabilization in Liquid Detergents
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detergents and cleaning agents face challenges in achieving high catalytic activity of proteases in liquid surfactant-containing preparations, as many proteases do not perform effectively under wash cycle conditions, and stabilizers like boric acid primarily inhibit proteolytic activity rather than enhance performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating boric acid or its derivatives in concentrations of 1.5% to 4.0% by weight, along with a protease that has specific amino acid substitutions such as 99E, 3T, and 4I, to enhance the cleaning performance of protease-containing detergents, thereby increasing the enzyme's stability and activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If boric acid is used as a protease stabilizer in conventional concentrations (up to 1% by weight), then the protease stability during storage is improved, but the proteolytic activity is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of boric acid from conventional levels (up to 1% by weight) to elevated levels (1.5% to 4.0% by weight). This parameter change transforms boric acid from a proteolytic inhibitor into a performance-enhancing stabilizer that simultaneously provides both stability and activity, resolving the contradiction between stability and proteolytic activity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If many proteases are used in liquid surfactant-containing preparations, then the cleaning agent can address various types of soiling, but the catalytic performance is insufficient under wash cycle conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specific amino acid substitutions (99E, 3T, 4I, 199I) in the protease sequence that optimize catalytic performance under wash cycle conditions. This molecular-level parameter change enables the protease to maintain high activity in liquid surfactant-containing preparations while retaining its ability to handle protein-containing soils, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and catalytic performance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If boric acid concentration is increased above 1% by weight, then the stabilizing effect is enhanced, but the assumption is that proteolytic activity would be further inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of boric acid (proteolytic inhibition at low concentrations) into a beneficial effect by using it at elevated concentrations (1.5% to 4.0% by weight). At these higher levels, boric acid transitions from being a activity-inhibiting stabilizer to a performance-enhancing stabilizer that simultaneously improves both stability and catalytic activity, thus converting harm into benefit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of boric acid and derivative concentrations above 1.5% by weight, in combination with proteases having specific amino acid substitutions, significantly enhances the cleaning performance of proteases in detergents, improving their stability and activity during wash cycles.
Implementation Method 1
boric acid and its derivatives, in addition to their stabilizing effect at higher concentrations from about 1.5 wt%, also have a performance-enhancing effect on specific proteases
Implementation Method 2
They serve to break down protein-containing soils on the items being cleaned
Implementation Method 3
at least one protease, wherein the protease comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence specified in SEQ ID NO:1
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to washing and cleaning agents containing boric acid and/or a derivative thereof and at least one protease as described herein, as well as the use of boric acid and/or a derivative thereof to increase the cleaning performance of a protease-containing washing or cleaning agent, the use of the washing and cleaning agents and the corresponding washing and cleaning processes.