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Microbial Enzymes in Industry
Concepts tested here
- Alkaline enzymes in detergents
All Questions
2008 AIPMT 1 question
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Modern detergents contain enzyme preparations of:Modern (biological) detergents contain enzymes such as proteases, lipases and amylases to remove protein, oily and starchy stains from clothes.
A detergent solution is strongly alkaline, with a pH of about 9 to 11.
Ordinary enzymes would be denatured at this pH, so the enzymes used must remain stable and active under alkaline conditions.
Such enzymes are obtained from alkaliphiles, micro-organisms that grow best at high pH, for example alkaliphilic species of Bacillus that give alkaline protease (subtilisin).
Acidophiles and thermoacidophiles yield enzymes that work at acidic pH, and enzymes of thermophiles are heat stable but are not specially suited to alkaline conditions.
So modern detergents contain enzyme preparations of alkaliphiles.