Novel process for enzymatic bleaching of food products

• Main Author: MUTSAERS JOHANNA HENRICA GERDI,WENZEL THIBAUT JOSE,DE BOER LEX,VAN DIJK ALBERTUS ALARD,VAN ROOIJEN RUTGER JAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.02.2007
• Subjects: BAKERY PRODUCTS; BAKING; BLEACHING LEATHER OR FURS; DAIRY PRODUCTS, e.g. MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE; DRY-CLEANING, WASHING OR BLEACHING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS,YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR MADE-UP FIBROUS GOODS; EDIBLE DOUGHS; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BYSUBCLASSES A23B - A23J; HUMAN NECESSITIES; LAUNDERING; MAKING THEREOF; MILK OR CHEESE SUBSTITUTES; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL; PRESERVATION THEREOF; TEXTILES; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OFNUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES; TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; TREATMENT, e.g. PRESERVATION, OF FLOUR OR DOUGH, e.g. BYADDITION OF MATERIALS

The invention provides the use of enzymes capable in converting pigments for bleaching food products, for example flour-based or milk-derived products. Surprisingly, it was found that these enzymes can advantageously be used as a stain remover in household detergents. In particular, the enzymes proved very efficient in removing colored stains, for example grass stains, coffee and tea stains, from both cotton and synthetic (e.g. polyester) fabrics. Furthermore, the enzymes could also be used in enzymatic stone bleaching processes, for example by bleaching the indigo dye of blue jeans to a desired level.