Page 159 - The Miraculous Machine that Works for an Entire Lifetime: Enzyme

Adnan Oktar

teins causing the stain.

The enzyme lipase, which breaks down
fats, also works in detergents, helping dis-
solve fat or grease stains. Attaching to the fat
molecules on clothing, they break them
down and convert them into amino acid
components.
Enzymes are also used in the manufac-
ture of textiles. During the weaving of cotton
and cotton-mix fabrics, the long fibers that
comprise the cloth are coated with an adhe-

sive substance to prevent them from break-
ing during weaving. The substances em-
ployed are starch and starch by-products. Yet
once the weaving has been completed, the
fabric has to be freed from that starch for
subsequent stages.
This can be performed using such harsh
chemicals as acids, alkalines and oxidants,
but today this is an easy matter with en-
zymes. Amylase breaks down the starch
without damaging the fabric. One advantage
of this procedure is that it is eco-friendly. The

waste water that results is less toxic.
Use is also made of enzymes in improv-
ing color quality of fabric. The hairs, or fib-
rins, that form on the threads are broken
down and minimized by enzymes. The en-
zyme catalase is used for fabrics that are
bleached with hydrogen peroxide as pre-
treatment before dying. As you'll remember,

157