Enzyme detergents
At the very base enzyme detergents are defined as detergents that comprise of enzymes as one of its main components. Enzymes are being added to detergents because of the fact that they can break down the fat, carbohydrate and protein particles in the food. What does this imply?
Most of the stains that happen on clothes are because of the food people spill. The stubborn stains that may get lighter with regular wash, but are not completely eradicated require something to breakdown the miniscule particles. These particles are those of protein, fats, oils and carbohydrates, which can only be destroyed by enzymes.
The enzyme detergents are a rather recent development, but have an extensive market everywhere in the world. This is because whether it is a pre-school going young one, and adolescent, the working populace, or anybody belonging to any age group, one does tend to spill what they eat on their clothes, at some time or the other. And surely nobody likes to wear stained clothes!
There are people who still prefer the age-old technique of using basic detergents and soaking stained clothes in very hot water. Well, it may remove the stain completely or at least have it reduce to minimal visible level, yet there are other shortfalls to the old-fashioned washing technique. Basically, very hot water or regularly beating the clothes while washing tends to reduce the life of the fabric. However, with detergents containing enzymes, the clothes are spared going through the rigorous process and it life does not shorten, as such.
Enzyme detergents commonly breakdown the protein content in clothes that are sullied with blood, milk, sweat, etc. The widely used enzymes for cleaning purposes are:
- Proteases
- Amylases
- Lipases
In spite of the widespread and essential benefits of enzymes in detergents, yet its content in the detergent is almost negligent being 0.4 - 0.8%, on an average. And yet, only this amount is enough to do the job.
