Stabilized Liquid Enzyme Composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid composition comprising an enzyme and an enzyme stabilizer such as an aryl carboxylic acid.

1 . A liquid composition comprising a subtilisin and a subtilisin stabilizer of the following formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or a salt hereof, wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of C1-C5 alkyl, substituted C1-C5 alkyl, C1-C5 alkenyl and substituted C1-C6 alkenyl and R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, amine, C1-C6 alkylated amine, amine derivative, halogen, nitro, thiol, thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid, acid salt, ester, sulfonate or phosphonate, the liquid composition comprising less than 25% w/v of polyol, particularly less than 20% w/v of polyol. 
     
     
         2 . A liquid composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the subtilisin stabilizer is substituted in position 3, 4, and/or 5. 
     
     
         3 . A liquid composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the R 2  and R 6  are hydrogens. 
     
     
         4 . A liquid composition according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a second enzyme, in particular an amylase, a lipase, a cellulase or an oxidoreductase, or any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A liquid composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said subtilisin stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of phenylacetic acid, 3-chlorophenylacetic acid, 4-chlorophenylacetic acid, 3-nitrophenylacetic acid, 4-nitrophenylacetic acid, 3-aminohenylacetic acid, 4-aminophenylacetic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, 2-phenylpropionic acid, 3-chlorophenyl-3-propionic acid, 4-chloro-phenyl-3-propionic acid, cinnamic acid and terephthalic acid and their corresponding salts. 
     
     
         6 . A liquid composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises 0.001-20% w/w or 0.05-1000 mM of said stabilizer, particularly 0.01-15% w/w or 0.5-750 mM. 
     
     
         7 . A liquid composition according to  claim 1  which is a detergent additionally comprising a surfactant, particularly a laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent. 
     
     
         8 . A liquid detergent composition according to  claim 7  which comprises from 1 to 40% of anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . A liquid detergent composition according to  claim 7  which comprises from 0.2 to 40% of non-ionic surfactant. 
     
     
         10 . A liquid detergent composition according to  claim 7  which comprises at least 1% w/w of detergent builder, particularly at least 2% w/w of detergent builder. 
     
     
         11 . A liquid composition according to  claim 1  wherein the subtilisin is present in the liquid composition in an amount of at least 1.5 g/L, particularly above 5 g/L. 
     
     
         12 . A liquid composition according to  claim 1  which has a pH above 7.5, particularly above 8 or above 9.