Valorization of fruit by-products of Bromelia antiacantha Bertol.: Protease obtaining and its potential as additive for laundry detergents

Abstract

The aim of this work is to isolate and study the performance of an alkaline protease from fruit by-products of Bromelia antiachanta Bertol. for its potential application as an additive of laundry detergent formulations. Its behavior is compared with Pura Felt 4000 (Genencor Argentina). Antiacanthain, a cysteine protease from fruit by-products of B. antiachanta, showed a remarkable stability (50 ± 0.82% to 177 ± 0.82% residual activity) in buffer with non-ionic and cationic surfactants (0.1, 0.4 and 1.0%), metal chelation (1, 5 and 10 mM EDTA), antiredepositant (100 mM Na 2 CO 3 ) and bleaching (5% H 2 O 2 ) agents. In commercial detergents, antiacanthain retained 100 ± 1.25% to 120 ± 0.82% of its maximum activity at 60 °C and removed stains from cloths in a short time period. Antiacanthain fulfilled all the requirements as detergent additive: high activity and stability in a broad temperature range (25–60 °C) and alkaline pH (5–9), and very good compatibility with commercial detergents.