Cold-Water Protease Detergent Composition for Low-Temperature Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry detergent compositions face challenges in delivering effective cleaning and freshness at lower wash temperatures, particularly in maintaining whiteness and freshness perception.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating specific cold water proteases, such as variants of BPN′ subtilisin derived from Bacillus lentus, into fabric and home care products, which enhance cleaning and freshness profiles by improving proteolytic activity at lower temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional proteases are used in laundry detergent, then good cleaning of stains is achieved, but cleaning efficacy deteriorates at lower wash temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the protease enzyme's structural and functional parameters to enable optimal performance at lower temperatures. Specifically, cold water proteases are engineered with altered amino acid sequences and structures that increase their catalytic activity and stability in cold water conditions, allowing effective stain removal at temperatures below 40°C where traditional proteases become less effective
2Loss of energy
If wash temperature is reduced for sustainability, then energy consumption decreases, but cleaning and freshness performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the enzymatic parameters of the protease to create cold-water active variants with optimized catalytic constants (kcat) and Michaelis constants (Km) for low-temperature operation. This allows the detergent to achieve effective cleaning performance while using lower wash temperatures that reduce energy consumption and align with sustainable washing practices
3Productivity
If cold water proteases are incorporated into detergent, then cleaning and freshness are improved, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs cold water proteases that can perform multiple functions simultaneously: they effectively break down protein-based stains, maintain fabric whiteness, and enhance freshness perception. By using a single enzyme variant with multiple beneficial effects, the formulation achieves improved cleaning and freshness without requiring multiple separate additives, thus limiting the increase in formulation complexity
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 these cold water proteases in laundry detergents improves cleaning efficacy and freshness perception, even at lower wash temperatures, thereby addressing the sustainability and consumer demand for better stain removal and fabric care.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating cold water proteases, such as variants of BPN′ subtilisin derived from Bacillus lentus, into fabric and home care products, which enhance cleaning and freshness by improving proteolytic activity at lower temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to fabric and home care products comprising one or more cold water proteases and processes for making and using such products. Such compositions provide improved cleaning and freshness. Such cold water proteases may be derived from parent enzymes, including BPN′ subtilisin and subtilisin derived from Bacillus lentus, by substitution, insertion and/or deletion of one or more of the parent enzymes' amino acids.