Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Enzyme – proenzyme; compositions thereof; process for... – Preparing granular- or free-flowing enzyme composition
Patent
1987-08-04
1990-07-10
Wax, Robert A.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Enzyme , proenzyme; compositions thereof; process for...
Preparing granular- or free-flowing enzyme composition
25217412, 252DIG12, C12N 998
Patent
active
049406655
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a method for the granulation of an industrial grade raw enzyme powder. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for the granulation of a raw enzyme powder, characterized by the fact that spherical particles having diameters in a desired range can be obtained in a high yield with minimum inactivation ratio and without entailing any mechanical trouble and the produced granules possess proper strength, produce almost no dust, excel in storage, and dissolve quickly in water preparatory to actual use.
BACKGROUND ART
The industrial grade enzymes which are used in machines, foods and drinks, textiles, leather, detergents, and various other applications are broadly divided into those obtained by extraction from animals and plants and those obtained as products of fermentation by microorganisms. Generally the enzymes of the former type are economically utilizable only to a limited extent because of limited sources of supply, whereas those of the latter type are extensively used because they have virtually infinite sources of supply and are producible relatively economically.
Generally the enzyme powders, no matter whether they originate in animals and plants or in microoganisms, which hawve been obtained by separation and purification are rarely put to use in their unaltered form. Most of these enzyme powders are granulated by themselves or in combination with an extender, a stabilizer, and other substances and put to use.
The granulated enzymes are generally in demand in particle sizes in the range of about 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Further, as in any other field, the granulated enzymes are required to be uniform in particle size, shape, and constituent makeup, rich in flowability, excellent in mechanical strength, and rigid enough to avoid sustaining cracking and chipping during storage or transportation. Besides these general requirements, the granulated enzymes must fulfill the following requirements.
It has been pointed out that enzymes, particularly proteases (proteolytic enzyme), may cause allergic reactions in some workers and users handling them when the dust of the enzymes comes in contact with the eyes, nose, and skin, for example. Therefore, as much as possible, it is necessary to prevent generation of dust during storage, transport, uses etc.
Mechanical strength and dust emission are not necessarily directly related. For example, some granules are so rigid as to offer fair resistance to disintegration and yet emit a fine dust and other granules are highly disintegrable into minute particles and yet are not reduced into a fine powder. Generally, the so-called elutriation method is used in the determination of the dust-emitting property of granulated enzymes. It is held that granulated enzymes are desirable when the amount of dust emitted thereby as determined by this method is not more than 150 GU/60 g (Ton den Ouden, Tenside Detergents, 14(1977) 4, P 209-210).
In virtually all cases, the granulated enzymes are put to use as dissolved in hot water or cold water. Particularly, in the case of granulated enzymes intended for use in detergents which form a main application for the industrial grade enzymes, from the point of the overall time consumed in laundering, these granulated enzymes must be capable of being quickly dispersed and dissolved to release the enzymes in water in a span of several minutes. Even if a granulated enzyme has high mechanical strength, therefore, it cannot be used as a good product if it possesses poor solubility in water. When an enzyme product having inferior storage stability is kept in storage for a long time, this enzyme product absorbs moisture and consequently swells and deforms, undergose disintegration and coalescence, suffers from loss of flowability and decline of activity, and sustains other forms of degeneration, to the extent of being deprived of its commercial value. The granulated enzymes, therefore, must possess sufficient solubility in water as described above and, on the other hand, absorb moisture only nominally a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3749671 (1973-07-01), Gedge, III
patent: 3775331 (1973-11-01), Borrello
patent: 4106991 (1978-08-01), Markussen et al.
patent: 4572897 (1986-02-01), Amutz et al.
Iijima Hitoshi
Nishimura Kunio
Showa Denko K. K.
Wax Robert A.
LandOfFree
Method for granulation of enzyme does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for granulation of enzyme, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for granulation of enzyme will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1720690