Thermolysin For Easy-Cleaning Of Insect Body Stains

Abstract

A liquid coating material and processes of its use are provided that includes an enzyme with enzymatic activity toward a component of a biological stain and a polymeric material. Also provided are processes for facilitating the removal of a biological stain wherein an inventive liquid coating material including an enzyme is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from a substrate or coating upon which the biological stain is contacting.

1 . A method of facilitating the removal of a biological stain on a substrate or a coating comprising:
 providing a liquid coating material;   incorporating a polymer within the liquid coating material; and   incorporating an enzyme into said liquid coating material to form a liquid bioactive coating material such that said enzyme is associable with the polymer and is capable of enzymatically degrading a component of a biological stain.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the enzyme is a hydrolase. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the enzyme is a lipase, a protease, or an amylase. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the enzyme is a protease with a specific activity in excess of 20,000 U/g. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pH of the liquid coating material is greater than 8.0. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said enzyme is in solution in said liquid coating material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said liquid coating material comprises an alcohol, said alcohol present at less than 0.8% by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said liquid coating material comprises ammonia, or a derivative of ammonia. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying said bioactive coating material to a biological stain, thereby promoting removal of said stain. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said biological stain is a food stain or an insect stain. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said biological stain is present on a substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is one or more of aminoplasts, melamine formaldehydes, carbamates, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, epoxies, polycarbonates, alkyds, vinyls, polyamides, polyolefins, phenolic resins, polyesters, or polysiloxanes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer includes a functional group of acetoacetate, acid, amine, carboxyl, epoxy, hydroxyl, isocyanate, silane, vinyl, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the enzyme is non-covalently attached to the polymer. 
     
     
         15 . A liquid composition for facilitating biological stain removal comprising:
 a liquid coating material;   a polymer incorporated into the liquid coating material; and   an enzyme incorporated into the liquid coating material and not covalently bound to the polymer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the enzyme is a lipase, a protease, or an amylase. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the enzyme is a protease with a specific activity in excess of 20,000 U/g. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the pH of the sprayable composition material is greater than 5.0. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein said enzyme is in solution in said liquid bioactive coating material. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein said liquid bioactive coating material comprises an alcohol, said alcohol present at less than 0.8% by weight. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein said liquid bioactive coating material is predominantly ammonia, or a derivative of ammonia. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the polymer is one or more of aminoplasts, melamine formaldehydes, carbamates, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, epoxies, polycarbonates, alkyds, vinyls, polyamides, polyolefins, phenolic resins, polyesters, or polysiloxanes. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the polymer includes a functional group of acetoacetate, acid, amine, carboxyl, epoxy, hydroxyl, isocyanate, silane, vinyl, or combinations thereof.