Lipase Mutant Detergent for Grease Cleaning and Odor Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manual dishwashing detergents face challenges with slow lipase kinetics, poor enzyme stability during storage, and malodour issues due to lipase action on short-chain fatty acid residues in dairy soil fats, which hinder effective grease cleaning in short wash processes.

Innovation Solution

A hand dishwashing detergent composition comprising a surfactant system, a variant lipase with specific substitutions, and a cationic stabilization system, which includes anionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic surfactants, and a cation to enhance lipase stability and prevent malodours.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If lipase is added to improve grease cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but malodour issues arise due to lipase action on short-chain fatty acid residues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrease cleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmalodour
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the lipase enzyme through site-directed mutagenesis, changing specific amino acid residues (e.g., Ser122 to Ala, Ser266 to Ala) to alter the enzyme's catalytic properties. This parameter change in the enzyme's molecular structure reduces its ability to hydrolyze short-chain fatty acid residues while maintaining grease cleaning effectiveness, thereby eliminating malodour generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of lipase (malodour generation from short-chain fatty acid hydrolysis) into a beneficial outcome by engineering a mutant lipase that selectively targets long-chain triglycerides in grease while leaving short-chain fatty acids unaffected. The original harmful property is transformed into a selective catalytic advantage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If lipase is used to enhance cleaning performance, then grease removal is improved, but enzyme stability during storage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidenzyme stability during storage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces multiple amino acid substitutions (e.g., Ser122Ala, Ser266Ala, Thr41Ile) that modify the lipase's three-dimensional structure and catalytic mechanism. These parameter changes in the enzyme's primary structure enhance its conformational stability during storage while preserving its catalytic activity toward grease, resolving the stability-performance trade-off.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite enzyme system by combining the engineered lipase with specific excipients and formulation components that stabilize the enzyme structure during storage. This composite approach maintains enzyme stability without compromising cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If conventional lipase is used in manual dishwashing, then grease cleaning is attempted, but the wash process becomes too slow for practical use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrease cleaning capabilityVSAvoidwash process duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent engineers the lipase with enhanced catalytic parameters through site-directed mutagenesis, specifically improving the enzyme's turnover number (kcat) and substrate affinity (Km). These parameter optimizations enable the lipase to rapidly hydrolyze grease molecules within the short duration of manual dishwashing, making the process practically viable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a dynamic enzyme system that adapts its catalytic activity to the washing conditions. The engineered lipase maintains optimal catalytic efficiency across varying temperatures and pH levels encountered during manual dishwashing, ensuring fast and consistent grease removal throughout the wash process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 composition provides effective grease cleaning, excellent storage stability, and low malodour risk, ensuring good and fast cleaning performance without malodour issues.

Implementation Method 1

lipase enzymes have long been proposed as potential additives to improve the grease cleaning

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

a cation that acts as stabilization system for the lipase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCation stabilization:

Data Source

PatentUS10377974B2Hand dishwashing liquid detergent composition
Publication Date: 2019.08.13 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A hand dishwashing detergent composition having a surfactant system a lipase at least 0.05% by weight of the composition of at least one monovalent, divalent or trivalent cation or a mixture thereof.