US Patent 9051535 Protein-enhanced surfactants for enzyme activation

Disclosed herein are compositions containing enzymes, particularly acting at the interface between two immiscible phases where the rate of enzymatic activity is increased by addition of a blend of surfactant(s) and a mixture derived from yeast fermentation, that contain non-enzymatic exo-proteins released by yeast in response to a non-lethal stress. The enzymes include those that work at the interface between an aqueous solution and a water immiscible phase, liquid or solid, such as oil, fat, cellulose, lignin, etc. including, but not limited to the following or combinations thereof: lipases, polysaccharase, lignase, cellulase and the like, in which the substrate of an enzymatic reaction forms a phase, segregated from the aqueous solution in which the enzymes are typically operating. Disclosed herein are methods for improving a washing solution with the use of these compositions, where the enzyme-protein-surfactant solution can be used in such applications as: laundry, spot remover, pre-laundry, dishes, hard surface cleaning, wastewater treatment, cellulose breakdown as in ethanol production, lignin utilization, environmental remediation, industrial cleaning, and agricultural applications.