Enzymes used in detergents are protein catalysts that consist of long chains of amino acids. They are similar to protein catalysts present in all living cells where they control metabolic processes, convert food nutrients to simple molecules, convert these molecules to energy and to new cell material. As catalysts; enzymes speed up specific chemical reactions, in mild conditions of temperature and pH, without being altered or consumed in the process. Consequently, small quantities of enzyme can repeatedly catalyze the break down of millions of molecules in minutes. Enzymes function optimally in detergents at temperatures of 20 - 60C and within a pH range of pH 7.5 - 10.5.

The performance of enzymes in detergents depends on number of factors, including the detergent’s composition, type of stains to be removed, wash temperature, washing procedure and wash-water hardness. To help formulators optimize enzymatic detergent washing efficiency, Specialty Enzymes provides wash laboratory technical services. In our wash laboratory, customer, base detergents are evaluated on standard soils in both a model wash system (Terg-O-Tometer) and in full-scale household washing machines.

Household Laundry Detergents and Stain Removers
Modern household laundry detergents must effectively clean and remove the most difficult stains at low washing temperatures and short wash times. Addition of detergent enzymes, manufactured by Specialty Enzymes, to laundry detergents and direct-application stain removers improves detergent cleaning performance, renews whiteness, color and appearance of garments. Enzymes designed for use in cleaning applications are compatible with all commonly used detergent components such as nonionic and most anionic surfactants, builders, anti-redeposition agents, optical brighteners and oxygen-releasing bleaching agents. Use of enzymes in household laundry detergents is environment friendly, since all our enzyme products are non-toxic completely biodegradable and help reduce clothes-washing energy consumption.

The most widely used Specialty Enzymes detergent enzymes efficiently hydrolyze or make water-soluble, food-protein, carbohydrate and fat stains. Specialty Enzymes products, SEBrite-BP are a range of alkaline proteases that when added to surfactant-containing liquid and powder laundry detergents or pre-spotters, enhance the removal of protein-containing stains such as milk, egg, soya, blood, grass and body fluids of human origin.  Dried protein-containing stains tend to strongly adhere to textile fibers binding other soils including inorganic material, dirt and colored substances. Specialty Enzymes detergent proteases breakdown protein-containing stains into more water-soluble peptides, amino acids that can be rinsed away more easily. The use of Specialty Enzymes detergent alpha-amylases enzymes such as SEBrite-BA and SEBrite-A in liquid and powder laundry detergents solubilizes starch-containing stains such as baby food, spaghetti, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, gravy, chocolate, tomato sauce and other starch thickened foods. Addition of our alpha-amylases to laundry detergents and laundry pre-spotters, enhances removal of starch-containing stain residues, increases fabric whiteness, and reduces re-deposition of starch-containing stains on co-washed garments and fabrics.

To enhance stain removal, brighten the color, and soften cotton and cotton-containing garments, Specialty Enzymes offers a laundry-detergent compatible cellulase enzyme, SEBrite-COLOR. SEBrite-COLOR, effectively removes cotton cellulose microfibrils on wear and wash-damaged cotton garments. Repeated washing of cotton-containing garments with a laundry detergent containing SEBrite-COLOR, improves soil removal, brightens fabric color, softens and restores original garment appearance.

The removal of fatty food stains, cosmetics and sebum from garments by laundry detergents formulated for use at lower washing temperatures and more neutral pH’s can be enhanced by addition of our detergent lipase enzyme, SEBrite-L. Problematic stains such as lipstick, salad oil, animal fat and butter are removed from clothes after several washes with liquid and powder laundry detergents containing SEBrite-L.

Automatic Dishwashing Detergents Household and institutional automatic dishwashing detergent formulations have traditionally been, high pH, chlorine, phosphate and metasilicate-containing products.  However, to improve the low-temperature wash performance and to reduce the environmental impact, automatic dishwashing detergents have been reformulated  with reduced alkalinity, and no or reduced concentrations of phosphates and metasilicates. To maintain and improve the wash performance of these reformulated automatic dishwashing detergents, protease and amylase enzymes, SEBrite-BP and SEBrite-BA have been added. Testing has shown that reduced-pH automatic dishwashing detergents containing SEBrite-BP and SEBrite-BA, remove film and spot-forming protein and starch deposits on glassware, cutlery and plates more effectively than traditional high-pH, alkaline automatic dishwashing detergents.

Industrial/Institutional Detergents Industrial and institutional laundries have traditionally used strongly alkaline detergents and high temperature washing. However, because of increasing wastewater treatment and energy costs, many industrial and institutional laundries have opted to use enzyme-containing detergents as an effective means of reducing costs and maintaining cleaning performance at lower temperatures and alkalinity.  

Specialty Enzymes' protease and amylase enzymes, SEBalase-BP and SEBrite-BA can be used cost-effectively to improve the wash performance of reduced-pH, low temperature industrial and institutional laundry detergents used to remove blood, body fluids, organic material and food soils from hospital, restaurant and slaughterhouse textiles. When washing at lower pH values and temperatures, Specialty Enzymes' lipase enzyme, SEBrite-L can be effectively used to boost detergent wash performance and remove difficult oil and fat stains. Many industrial and hospital laundries are able to significantly reduce re-washing, and bleach consumption, by pre-spotting or soaking heavily soiled items with an enzyme-containing detergent. To soften and extend the life of white and colored cotton-containing institutional linens such as sheets, tablecloths and napkins, a laundry detergent containing our cellulase enzyme, SEBrite-COLOR is used.

Cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces in food manufacturing plants and buildings contaminated by bacteria and fungi, is increasing being done with enzyme-containing detergents.  Specialty Enzymes protease SEBalase-BP and cellulase, SEBrite-COLOR, when used in cleaning agents applied to hard surfaces, prevent the accumulation of organic material and helps reduce the growth of microorganisms. SEBrite-L, our lipase enzyme, when used in hard surface cleaners increases the water solubility and speeds the removal of animal and vegetable fats and oils.

Medical Instrument Cleaning Detergents
Standard practices for cleaning, disinfection and re-use of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes, surgical instruments and other medical devices include manual pre-cleaning, and automated washing/reprocessing with a highly concentrated enzyme-containing detergent, followed by high-level disinfection. Manual pre-cleaning usually includes a one to ten minute pre-soak in a cleaning solution containing an enzyme-containing detergent followed by brushing of irregular surfaces to remove particulate matter. Specialty Enzymes protease and lipase enzymes SEBalase-M and SEBrite-M.