Partially purified rubber seed lipase for efficient removal of fatty soil

Lipase was extracted from rubber seeds and partially purified 7.59 fold with a yield of 62.14% recovery using (NH4)2SO4 fractionation followed by batch adsorption on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose. The extracted enzyme exhibited optimum activity as well as high stability at a temperature of 40 °C and pH 8. The kinetics of product formation continued for 30 minutes and was linear for the first 10 minutes. The enzyme exhibited good stability with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), CaCl2 and Triton X-100 whereas poor stability was observed with sodium perborate and hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme was found to be less stable in the presence of commercial detergents. Hence, rather than supplementing the enzyme with detergents, pre-incubation of the enzyme with fatty soil and subsequent washing with detergents was shown to be more successful in removing fatty soil. Further studies showed that fatty stain caused by coconut oil (1mL) can be completely removed by stirring the fabric with 2% SDS 5.00 mL for 15 minutes, followed by incubation with lipase (4.00 mL, 1 mg/mL) for 30 minutes at 40 ºC and subsequent washing with detergent.

These findings indicated that rubber seed lipase, with its ability to function in alkaline pH (~ 8.0) and temperature ~ 40 °C and its capability to remove fatty soil efficiently, is suitable for use as a potential bio-detergent.

Keywords: Bio-detergent, lipase, removal of fatty soil, rubber seed.

Doi: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v39i1.2928

J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2011 39 (1):69-76