The Application Of Enzymes In Industry And Medicine.

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The Application Of Enzymes

In Industry And Medicine

Enzymes are used in many different ways in industry and in medicine. They are used because they can catalyse specific reactions at relatively low temperatures and they are cheaper than man-made catalysts, as well as being more versatile.

One of the most well known uses of enzymes is in the laundry industry. The first enzyme detergent was manufactured in 1913 by Dr Otto Rohn. It consisted of sodium carbonate and trypsin. It was not very effective due to the sodium carbonate making the solution very alkaline, thus reducing the activity of the enzyme. In 1963, Novo Industries used fermenters to produce a protease enzyme from Bacillus Licheniforms. This enzyme was active and stable in alkaline conditions and so was used in the first effective "biological" washing powder. (3)

The main enzyme in modern biological laundry detergents is protease. Protease breaks down protein stains, such as grass, blood and human sweat. Also in biological detergents lipase and amylase are included. Lipases work on stains resulting from fatty products, such as oils and fats. Amylases work on starchy food deposits.

In the more recently developed washing powders, which