Water hardness key element in choosing between washing efficiency with enzyme detergent and the lifespan of the washing machine

Abstract

The use of detergents with enzymatic activity is very popular if we consider their real economic advantages - reducing energy and water consumption but also reducing the environmental impact by using more biodegradable components related to organic and inorganic components. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the impact of environmental factors such as the variability of water hardness in the public water supply network and the temperature applied to the amylolytic, lipolytic and proteolytic enzyme activity of 6 detergents available on the market. The determinations were performed by modified methods from the European Pharmacopoeia 8th Edition in determination the enzymatic activity of the pancreas powder. The determinations show a significant influence of increased water hardness on lipase and protease activity in detergent (p <0.01 *) between extreme hardness values, while amylolytic activity does not vary significantly with increasing water hardness.