Uses of Enzymes

Uses of Enzymes

Biological Detergents
1. They're mainly protein- digesting enzymes (Proteases) and fat-digesting enzymes (lipases)
2. Because the enzymes break down animal and plant matter, they are ideal for removing stains like food or blood.
3. Biological detergents are also more effective at working at low temperatures (e.g. 30 degrees c) than other types of detergents.
Enzymes are used to change foods
1. Carbohydrases is used to convert starch syrup, which is quite cheap, into sugar syrup, which is more valuable. For example as a ingredient in sports drinks
2. Isomerase is used to convert glucose syrups into fructose syrups. Fructose is sweeter that glucose, so can be used in smaller amounts, for example slimming foods and drinks.
3. Protease is used to pre-digest proteins during the manufacturing of baby food
Advantages of Enzymes in Industry
1. They're specific, so they only catalyse the reaction you want them to
2. Using lower temperatures and pressures means lower costs as it saves engery
3. Enzymes work for a long time, so after the initial cost of buying them, you can continually use them
4. They are biodegradable and therefore cause less environmental pollution
Disadvantages of using Enzymes in industry
1. Some people can develop allergies to the enzymes (e.g. biological washing powder)
2. Enzymes can be denatured by even a small increase in temperature. They're also susceptible to poison and changes in pH. This means the conditions in which they work must be tightly controlled
3. Enzymes can be expensive to produce
4. Contamination of the enzyme with other substances can affect the reaction

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	Created by Beth_Alice almost 10 years ago