Studies on applications of lypolytic enzymes in detergency II. Evaluation of adaptability of various kinds of lipases in practical laundry conditions

Kinetic parameter of hydrolysis, degree of hydrolysis, pH and temperature characteristics and positional specificity of hydrolysis of seven kinds of lipases from various microorganisms and a pancreatic lipase were examined for triolein or olive oil emulsion as a substrate and the adaptability of lipases for laundry systems was evaluated on the basis of these properties. As a result, it was found that lipases from yeast ofCandida cylindracea (Lipase MY® and OF®) were excellent in kinetic parameter and degree of hydrolysis and temperature characteristics and had no positional specificity, and that lipases from mold ofMucor (Lipase M‐AP® and SP®) were excellent in pH and temperature characteristics and had positional specificity. On the viewpoint of the present laundry practice under alkaline conditions and the tendency toward low temperature washing, lipases fromCandida andMucor seem to be more suitable for laundry systems in comparison with lipases from other microorganisms and a pancreatic lipase. The effect of positional specificity in hydrolysis of lipase will be discussed on the basis of examination on the removal of triglyceride and its hydrolysates by surfactant solution in a subsequent paper.