Non-aqueous, liquid, enzyme-containing compositions

Abstract

A substantially water-free, liquid, enzyme-containing composition comprises: (A) an enzyme; (B) a substance selected from (i) substances which in aqueous medium are substrates for said enzyme, (ii) substances which in aqueous medium are precursors for substrates for said enzyme, and (iii) substances which are cofactors for said enzyme; and (C) a non-aqueous liquid phase.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A substantially water-free liquid composition comprising: 
 (a) a laccase (EC1.10.3.);    (b) a substance selected from (i) substances which in aqueous medium are substrates for said enzyme, (ii) substances which in aqueous medium are precursors for substrates for said enzyme, and (iii) substances which are cofactors for said enzyme; and    (c) a non-aqueous liquid phase.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising at most 5% w/w of water.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , comprising at most 1% wlw of water.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said laccase is present in particulate solid form.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said laccase is present in crystalline form.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said particulate solid laccase is dispersed in said liquid phase.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said substance is dispersed in said liquid phase.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising a dispersing agent.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a viscosity-regulating agent.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pH-regulating agent.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said laccase substrate is a mediator and said non-aqueous liquid phase comprises a non-ionic surfactant.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said mediator is selected from the group consisting of acetosyringone, alkyl syringates, 10-substituted phenothiazines and 10-substituted phenoxazines  
     
     
         13 . A method of fabric bleaching comprising adding the composition of  claim 1  to a fabric requiring bleaching.  
     
     
         14 . A method of inhibiting dye transfer to a fabric comprising adding the composition of  claim 1  to a solution containing a fabric susceptible to dye transfer.  
     
     
         15 . A method of disinfecting a microbially contaminated locus by applying the composition of  claim 11  to a microbially contaminated locus.