SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF EFFECTIVE PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY INBIODETERGENTS

A new procedure for the determination of effective proteolytic activit y in biodetergents has been developed. Effective enzyme activity is de fined as the activity exhibited by the tested enzyme under real washin g conditions, i.e., in the water suspensions of the biodetergent teste d at the working temperature (usually 40 degrees C). Two insoluble chr omorytic substrates, namely black gelatin (gelatin cross-linked with g lutaraldehyde in the presence of black drawing ink) and the protease s ubstrate based on the immobilization of dyed casein in the structure o f polyacrylamide gel (blue casein-PAAG) were successfully used. It was found that there is a great difference in effective proteolytic activ ity among various biodetergents. The proposed procedure is suitable bo th for the manufacturers for a quick control of their products and for the quality control laboratories.