Laundry Detergents Research Articles

Laundry detergents and surfactants induced eosinophilic airway inflammation by increasing IL-33 expression and activating ILC2s.

Epidemiological studies demonstrated that cleaning work and frequent use of cleaning products are risk factors for asthma. Laundry detergents have been reported to have epithelial barrier-opening effects. However, whether laundry detergents directly induce airway inflammation and its mechanisms in vivo remain to be elucidated. Two commercial laundry detergents and two commonly-used surfactants for cleaning and cosmetics (sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate) were intranasally administered to mice. Lungs were analyzed using flow cytometry, histology, ELISA, and quantitative PCR. Human bronchial epithelial cells were stimulated with laundry detergents and analyzed using quantitative PCR and western blotting. Involvement of oxidative stress was assessed using an antioxidant. Dust samples from homes were analyzed to determine their detergent content by measuring their critical micelle concentration (CMC). The administered laundry detergents and surfactants induced eosinophilic airway inflammation accompanied by increased IL-33 expression and activation of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). Detergent-induced eosinophilic airway inflammation was significantly attenuated in Rag2-/- Il2rg-/- , Il33-/- mice, and also in wild-type mice treated with NAC. Detergent-induced IL-33 expression in airways was attenuated by NAC treatment, both in vivo and in vitro. CMCs were found in all of the tested dust extracts, and they differed significantly among the homes. The laundry detergents and surfactants induced eosinophilic airway inflammation in vivo through epithelial cell and ILC2 activation. They induced IL-33 expression in airway epithelial cells through oxidative stress. Furthermore, detergent residues were present in house dust and are presumably inhaled into the airway in daily life.

Productos alternativos con efecto insecticida en el control de Aulacaspis tubercularis; Newstead,1906 (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) en el cultivo de mango

The predominant microclimates of the coast and the inter-Andean valleys of Peru have favored the production and export of mango (Mangifera indica L.) to more than 30 countries in the years 2020 - 2021. In this process, phytosanitary support was of vital importance, however, the species Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead, 1906 (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is a pest that affects the resulting crop, increasing costs due to cleaning the fruits for marketing. Control with insecticides contaminates the environment; hence the objective of the study was to evaluate alternative products with insecticidal effect and low environmental impact. The use of mineral oil (7.5 mL.L-1), azadirachtin (3.2 %, 5 mL.L-1), commercial powder detergent (20 g.L-1) and potassium soap (10 mL.L-1) in the field and laboratory. In the field, 9 trees were sprayed per treatment, every seven days at an interval of 15 days and in the laboratory the individuals per bottle. The four evaluated products had a significant impact on the colonies in the field (95.31 %, 88.89 %, 77.38 % and 68.04 %, respectively) in the first three moments of application. In the laboratory, commercial detergent and 3.2 % azadirachtin exerted high mortality (100 %) on the third day post-application, followed by 100 % mineral oil on the fourth day. The four products evaluated are recommended for the management of A. tubercularis.

Biochemical characterization of an alkaline and detergent-stable Lipase from Fusarium annulatum Bugnicourt strain CBS associated with olive tree dieback.

This work describes a novel extracellular lipolytic carboxylester hydrolase named FAL, with lipase and phospholipase A1 (PLA1) activity, from a newly isolated filamentous fungus Ascomycota CBS strain, identified as Fusarium annulatum Bunigcourt. FAL was purified to about 62-fold using ammonium sulphate precipitation, Superdex® 200 Increase gel filtration and Q-Sepharose Fast Flow columns, with a total yield of 21%. The specific activity of FAL was found to be 3500 U/mg at pH 9 and 40°C and 5000 U/mg at pH 11 and 45°C, on emulsions of triocanoin and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine, respectively. SDS-PAGE and zymography analysis estimated the molecular weight of FAL to be 33 kDa. FAL was shown to be a PLA1 with a regioselectivity to the sn-1 position of surface-coated phospholipids esterified with α-eleostearic acid. FAL is a serine enzyme since its activity on triglycerides and phospholipids was completely inhibited by the lipase inhibitor Orlistat (40 μM). Interestingly, compared to Fusarium graminearum lipase (GZEL) and the Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (Lipolase®), this novel fungal (phospho)lipase showed extreme tolerance to the presence of non-polar organic solvents, non-ionic and anionic surfactants, and oxidants, in addition to significant compatibility and stability with some available laundry detergents. The analysis of washing performance showed that it has the capability to efficiently eliminate oil-stains. Overall, FAL could be an ideal choice for application in detergents.

Mixing Performance Prediction of Detergent Mixing Process Based on the Discrete Element Method and Machine Learning

The DIY approach promotes small-scale digital manufacturing for the production of customized, fast moving consumer goods, including powder detergent. In this context, a machine was developed to manufacture a customized detergent according to the needs of the clients indicated on a digital platform connected to the machine. The detergent is produced by a mixing process of the formulation components carried out in a 3D mixer. Analysing the mixing performance of the process is essential to obtain a quality product. In this study, the mixing process of the powder detergent was modelled using the discrete element method. After validating it with experimental test, this model was utilized to study the mixing performance considering the allowable mass fraction range of every formulation component and a mixer speed of 45 rpm, and the dataset generated from this study was employed along with a machine learning algorithm to obtain a model to predict the mixing index. In this sense, twenty-five different combinations of the defined components were simulated and a mixing index of 0.98–0.99 was obtained in a time of 60 s, revealing that all the combinations were completely mixed. In addition, the developed model was validated with results obtained from the DEM model. The model predicts the mixing index in advance and with accuracy.

Purification and characterization of a high molecular weight serine protease from Microbacterium paraoxydans sp. SKS10.

Alkaline proteases from microbial sources have been found suitable for diverse industrial applications, with serine proteases being the most common enzymes used in the detergent industry. In the present study, we have purified and characterized an extracellular alkaline serine protease from Microbacterium paraoxydans sp. SKS10. The protease was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by different chromatography techniques (fold purification 6.919). Km and Vmax for the protease were determined to be 0.183mg/mL and 4.904U/mL, respectively. This enzyme is a thermostable high molecular weight (∼109.4kDa) protease which has maximal activity at 60°C, and above pH 10. Inhibitor assays revealed the enzyme to be a serine protease whose activity increased by 2.5-fold in the presence of EDTA. This enzyme remained active in the presence of various metal salts and organic solvents and was compatible with commercially available laundry detergents highlighting its potential for use in the detergent industry.

Sub-lethal effects induced in Mytilus galloprovincialis after short-term exposure to sodium lauryl sulfate: Comparison of the biological responses given by mussels under two temperature scenarios

Surfactants are among the most common PPCPs that reach coastal systems, being often used in large quantities in cleaning products such as detergents and soap powders. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is listed in this group of emerging contaminants. Previous studies have already demonstrated the presence of SLS in aquatic environments and the negative effects on organisms living there. However, with ocean acidification and warming predictions, SLS-induced impacts may differ from those currently known. In this context, the present study aimed to reproduce environmental conditions by assessing the release of substances over a short period and to understand the influence of a rapid increase in temperature on the impacts caused. The marine bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis was exposed to 2.0 mg/L SLS at 17 °C and 21 °C for 7 days. To assess the possible biochemical changes resulting from the exposure of mussels to SLS, a series of biomarkers related to oxidative stress/damage, detoxification, and metabolic capacity were measured. The SLS accumulation in soft tissues was low (about 0.7 ng/g) at both temperatures. The results evidenced increased metabolic activity, especially in mussels exposed to SLS at 17 °C. An increase in protein content was also observed upon exposure to SLS and increased temperature compared to controls at 17 °C. Although no effects on antioxidant enzymes were observed, protein damage was recorded, especially at 21 °C. These findings confirmed that SLS induces toxic effects and predicted climate change factors may increase the impact on M. galloprovincialis.

A molecular study on recombinant pullulanase type I from Metabacillus indicus

Despite the great potential of cold-adapted pullulanase type I in tremendous industrial applications, the majority of commercialized pullulnases type I are of mesophilic and thermophilic origin so far. Hence, the present study underlines cloning, heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, characterization, and in silico structural modeling of Metabacillus indicus open reading frame of cold-adapted pullulanase type I (Pull_Met: 2133 bp & 710 a.a) for the first time ever. The predicted Pull_Met tertiary structure by I-TASSER, was structurally similar to PDB 2E9B pullulanase of Bacillus subtilis. Purified to homogeneity Pull_Met showed specific activity (667.6 U/mg), fold purification (31.7), molecular mass (79.1 kDa), monomeric subunit and Km (2.63 mg/mL) on pullulan. Pull_Met had optimal pH (6.0) and temperature (40 oC). After 10 h pre-incubation at pH 2.6-6.0, Pull_Met maintained 47.12 ± 0.0–35.28 ± 1.64% of its activity. After 120 min pre-incubation at 30 oC, the retained activity was 51.11 ± 0.29%. At 10 mM Mn2+, Na2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Cu2+ after 30 min preincubation, retained activity was 155.89 ± 8.97, 134.71 ± 1.82, 97.64 ± 7.06, 92.25 ± 4.18, and 71.28 ± 1.10%, respectively. After 30 min pre-incubation with Tween-80, Tween-20, Triton X-100, and commercially laundry detergents at 0.1% (v/v), the retained activity was 141.15 ± 3.50, 145.45 ± 0.20, 118.12 ± 11.00, and 90%, respectively. Maltotriose was the only end product of pullulan hydrolysis. Synergistic action of CA-AM21 (α-amylase) and Pull_Met on starch liberated 16.51 g reducing sugars /g starch after 1 h at 40 oC. Present data (cold-adeptness, detergent stability, and ability to exhibit starch saccharification of Pull_Met) underpins it as a promising pullulanase type I for industrial exploitation.

Efektifitas Penggunaan Deterjen Laundry Cair sebagai Agen Deparafinisasi pada Sediaan Ginjal Mencit (Mus musculus)

Deparaffinization is one of the stages of tissue processing, which aims to dissolve paraffin for full-color application. Deparaffinization can only be done by xylol to dissolve paraffin as fat. Liquid laundry detergent has the main component in the form of a surfactant which has the property of removing types of lipids by dissolving and emulsification because xylol has carcinogenic properties, flammable properties, and is relatively expensive. This study aimed to describe the quality of tissue preparations using liquid laundry detergents 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5% as deparaffinized agents and also to describe and compare several concentrations of the most effective laundry detergents as deparaffinized agents. Results from the preparation quality using xylol as a deparaffinized agent by conducting an experimental study with a cross-sectional design showed promising results. The quality of preparations using 1.5% liquid laundry detergent got poor results. The quality of preparations using 3% liquid laundry detergent got poor results. The quality of preparations using 4.5% liquid laundry detergent got good results. Based on the results of the Kurskal Wallis test with a significance value of p <0.05, which indicates that H0 is rejected, the conclusion that can be drawn is that there is an unfavorable difference in results between xylol and liquid laundry detergent as a deparaffinized agent.

Visual colorimetric sensor for nitroguanidine detection based on hydrogen bonding−induced aggregation of uric acid−functionalized gold nanoparticles

A colorimetric assay is proposed for the quantification of nitroguanidine (NQ), based on triggering the aggregation of uric acid−modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@UA) by intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction between uric acid (UA) and NQ. The red-to-purplish blue (lavender) color change of AuNPs@UA with increasing NQ concentrations could be perceived with the naked eye or detected by UV–vis spectrophotometry. The absorbance versus concentration correlation gave a linear calibration curve in the range of 0.6–3.2 mg L−1 NQ, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9995. The detection limit of the developed method was 0.063 mg L−1, lower than those of noble metal aggregation methods in the literature. The synthesized and modified AuNPs were characterized using UV–vis spectrophotometry, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Some critical parameters such as modification conditions of AuNPs, UA concentration, solvent environment, pH, and reaction time were optimized for the proposed method. The non-interference of common explosives (i.e., nitroaromatic, nitramine, nitrate ester, insensitive and inorganic explosives), common soil and groundwater ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, CO32−, PO43−) and possible interfering compounds (used as camouflage agents for explosives; D-(+)-glucose, sweeteners, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), household powder detergents, and paracetamol) on the proposed method was demonstrated, proving that the procedure was fairly selective for NQ, due to special hydrogen bonding interactions between UA−functionalized AuNPs and NQ. Finally, the proposed spectrophotometric method was applied to NQ−contaminated soil, and the obtained results were statistically compared with those of the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method in the literature.

Using in situ measurements of optical brighteners for rapid reconnaissance of wastewater inputs to water resources

Untreated wastewater entering the environment through leaking infrastructure and sewer overflows threatens both human and aquatic health. Water managers therefore need low cost, in situ methods to detect sewage contamination in real time to promptly employ mitigation strategies. However, wastewater has traditionally been identified in waterbodies using chemical and microbial tracers and indicators that can be non-unique to wastewater and often require complex and expensive analyses. Optical brighteners (synthetic brightening compounds present in laundry detergents and paper products) are emerging as ideal tracers of wastewater because of their quick and inexpensive field detection using handheld fluorometers. To test the efficacy of optical brighteners as standalone, in situ wastewater tracers, field readings of their fluorescence were compared with traditional wastewater analytes (e.g., B, F−, microbial indicators) at multiple points in time and space for a suburban watershed (Fishpot Creek, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States). We also used chemical tracers in three mixing models of endmembers to assess the wastewater fraction across the watershed. Compared to other analytes, optical brightener fluorescence measurements had the strongest correlation with wastewater infrastructure density (r = 0.71, p < 0.05), indicating their utility as tracers. All our endmember mixing models employing optical brightener readings predicted positive and significant correlations between the untreated wastewater fraction in streamflow and sewer pipe density at each site (r ≥ 0.77, p < 0.05). While using optical brightener readings for wastewater detection has some limitations (e.g., minor photodegradation), we found them to be more robust tracers than other analytes. Thus, optical brightener fluorescence measurements are an ideal initial screening tool for identifying wastewater contributions to the environment.

Is Laundry Detergent a Common Cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis?

Both patients and health care providers commonly suspect laundry detergent as the cause of skin problems; however, research suggests that the prevalence of laundry detergent-associated allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) may be quite low. Herein, we provide a summary of the evidence for the potential allergenicity of laundry detergent, including common allergens present in laundry detergent, the role of machine washing, and the differential diagnosis for laundry detergent-associated ACD.

Children ages one to four are disproportionally affected by chemical burns in a cross-sectional analysis of NEISS 2012–2021

BackgroundHousehold cleaning and personal care products (HC&PCPs) are irreplaceable in most daily routines. However, data are sparse on chemical burns caused by HC&PCPs. MethodsWe queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2012 to 2021 to characterize chemical burns caused by HC&PCPs as well as the most common causative categories of HC&PCPs responsible for chemical burns. ResultsWe found 2729 total emergency department (ED) visits due to chemical burn injuries within the years 2012–2021 due to HC&PCPs. Chemical burns disproportionally affect children ages four and under, accounting for 36.4% of all patients. Within this subpopulation, boys were more frequently affected by chemical burns and the eyes were the most affected area. The most common HC&PCPs involved in chemical burns in individuals ages one to four were laundry soaps and detergents (22.0%) and bleaches (21.3%). ConclusionChildren ages four and under are disproportionately affected by chemical burns due to non-intentional exposure of HC&PCPs, with laundry detergents and bleaches being the most common causative agents. Adequate storage of all HC&PCPs and improved parental supervision are paramount in preventing chemical burns in this age group.

A novel method for the green utilization of waste fried oil

Waste fried oil was studied to prepare three different types of detergent such as soap, liquid soap and soap powder via saponification process. The preparation conditions of soap base were optimized by orthogonal experiment. The specific preparation processes included waste fried oil treatment, orange peel extract preparation, saponification, demoulding and drying. Results showed that the optimal conditions for saponification were as follows: ratio of pure waste fried oil to coconut oil = 6:4, alkali liquor (NaOH) mass fraction 30%, saponification temperature 70 °C, orange peel extract concentration 15%. The mature soap was then used to make liquid soap and soap powder by surfactant (sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, coconut diethanol amide) addition, followed by grinding. The prepared detergent conforms to the production standard of strong decontamination ability, possesses stable performance, is gentle to skin and non-toxic.

The effectiveness of external anti-inflammatory therapy for contact dermatitis in infants

Contact dermatitis in paediatric population is a fairly common pathology, which occurs where the skin comes into contact with irritating factors. It refers to steroid-sensitive dermatoses, therefore, the prescription of topical glucocorticosteroids in this pathology is a proved method of treatment. 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream that has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects is a medium-potency effective topical glucocorticosteroid. In this article, the authors presented their own experience and clinical cases of the effective use of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream in contact dermatitis in paediatric population. The first clinical case demonstrates the use of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream once a day as part of the combination therapy in a 5-month-old baby with moderate contact dermatitis caused by cosmetic substances (massage oil). The treatment resulted in a pronounced improvement and the achievement of remission on the 8th day from the start of therapy. The second clinical case demonstrated the effectiveness of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream used once daily as part of the combination therapy in a 6-month-old baby with mild diaper contact dermatitis. The use of barrier medications (5% dexpanthenol ointment) for 3 days showed no positive changes, due to which 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream was prescribed. The treatment resulted in the relief of acute signs of inflammation in the buttocks and complete remission on the 5th day of the use of the cream. The third clinical case demonstrated the effectiveness of topical glucocorticosteroid in the form of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream used once daily as part of combination therapy in a 4-month-old baby with severe contact dermatitis, which developed after washing the perineum and feet with laundry soap. The pronounced positive changes in the skin improvement process were observed from the 5th day of the therapy, and a remission was achieved on the 10th day of the therapy, which was demonstrated as relief of acute inflammatory process in the buttocks and lower extremities, and disappearance of itching and scratching. Overall, the above clinical cases showed the high effectiveness of the use of the topical glucocorticosteroid in the form of 0.1% methylprednisolone aceponate cream as part of the combination therapy of contact dermatitis in pediatric population (at any severity level).

Cetyl Alcohol Polyethoxylates Disrupt Metabolic Health in Developmentally Exposed Zebrafish.

Alcohol polyethoxylates (AEOs), such as cetyl alcohol ethoxylates (CetAEOs), are high-production-volume surfactants used in laundry detergents, hard-surface cleaners, pesticide formulations, textile production, oils, paints, and other products. AEOs have been suggested as lower toxicity replacements for alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APEOs), such as the nonylphenol and octylphenol polyethoxylates. We previously demonstrated that nonylphenol polyethoxylates induced triglyceride accumulation in several in vitro adipogenesis models and promoted adiposity and increased body weights in developmentally exposed zebrafish. We also demonstrated that diverse APEOs and AEOs were able to increase triglyceride accumulation and/or pre-adipocyte proliferation in a murine pre-adipocyte model. As such, the goals of this study were to assess the potential of CetAEOs to promote adiposity and alter growth and/or development (toxicity, length, weight, behavior, energy expenditure) of developmentally exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio). We also sought to expand our understanding of ethoxylate chain-length dependent effects through interrogation of varying chain-length CetAEOs. We demonstrated consistent adipogenic effects in two separate human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell models as well as murine pre-adipocytes. Immediately following chemical exposures in zebrafish, we reported disrupted neurodevelopment and aberrant behavior in light/dark activity testing, with medium chain-length CetAEO-exposed fish exhibiting hyperactivity across both light and dark phases. By day 30, we demonstrated that cetyl alcohol and CetAEOs disrupted adipose deposition in developmentally exposed zebrafish, despite no apparent impacts on standard length or gross body weight. This research suggests metabolic health concerns for these common environmental contaminants, suggesting further need to assess molecular mechanisms and better characterize environmental concentrations for human health risk assessments.

Sosialisasi Pembuatan Sabun Cuci dari Limbah Minyak Goreng Bekas bagi Ibu-Ibu PKK

Purpose: This service activity aims to provide new insights and knowledge for Jayamukti villagers, especially housewives in processing used cooking oil waste into laundry soap so that it is not disposed of directly and pollutes the environment. Methodology: This service activity includes four stages, namely planning, coordination, socialization of making laundry soap, evaluation of the results of the service. The results of the questionnaire were analyzed using Microsoft Excel to calculate the percentage of participant satisfaction Results: The results of the community service activities show that 85.71% of residents are very interested in washing soap from used cooking oil, as much as 91.43% of residents will collect used cooking oil and make laundry soap from used cooking oil, as much as 74.29% of residents are interested in innovating so they can selling washing soap from used cooking oil and as many as 85.71% of residents stated that they were satisfied with the socialization and mentoring activities for making laundry soap from used cooking oil that had been carried out. This shows that the service activities that have been carried out are very beneficial for residents, especially PKK women because they can create productive activities that can increase income. Conclusion: The socialization activities that have been carried out are very beneficial for residents, especially PKK women because they can create productive activities that can increase income. This is shown by the high interest of residents in being able to collect used cooking oil and process it into laundry soap and are very interested in innovating so they can sell washing soap from used cooking oil.

MARITIME BORDER BETWEEN INDONESIA AND THE PHILIPPINES

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in Asia and even in the world which has 17,508 islands. The scattered islands can be used as tourist attractions and can be used as natural resources, helping the country's economy. Speaking of international law, the enforcement of national boundaries has been regulated in UNCLOS 1982 signed by 182 participating countries including Indonesia. Indonesia has ratified the agreement with Law No.17 of 1985. Regarding the Philippines, relations between Indonesia and the Philippines with the provisions in UNCLOS 1982, related to the agreement on the exclusive economic zone of the two countries agreed in 2014 in its implementation have run into trouble. The problem is that Miangas Island is closer to the Philippines than Indonesia. The thing that is contested between Indonesia and the Philippines is Miangas Island. Miangas Island is one of the islands located in the outermost region of Indonesia and to reach Miangas Island itself takes a long time. The distance to reach Miangas Island is closer than the Philippines. There is a fact that on Miangas Island there is often illegal trade. Illegal goods that are often traded on Miangas Island with the Philippines are coca-cola, Pepsi, laundry soap, and others. In addition, fishing and other criminal acts such as oil theft often occur in the Indonesian Sea around Miangas Island. As a result of the theft, it caused significant state losses. Based on this experience, Indonesia must be more vigilant in dealing with the problem of Miangas Island. Considering the island of Miangas is outside the territory of Indonesia. In this case, Indonesia can establish a sea border post, which can then be followed by the development and provision of infrastructure, which in turn can prosper the population on Miangas Island. Thus Indonesia's sovereignty can be maintained and from the economic aspect will bring benefits and can improve the economy of the Indonesian people. Research methods in this case use normative research methods. The approaches used are legal approaches and historical approaches.

ISOLATION OF PROMINENT OPPORTUNISTIC YEASTS, CANDIDA SPP., FROM COIN-OPERATED WASHING MACHINES

Coin-operated washing machines are convenient household appliances that are widely used in Thailand. The environment in these devices is suitable for fungal colonization. As a result, they may be a potential risk for yeast infection, particularly opportunistic yeasts such as Candida spp. Thus, the aim of this study was to isolate Candida spp. from thirty coin-operated top load washing machines installed at dormitories near Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand. Sterile cotton swabs were used to collect samples from four sites of each device including washing powder drawers, fabric softener drawers, tubs, and lint filters. Samples were inoculated on a surface of Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) supplemented with 0.05 g/L chloramphenicol. Polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions and MspI as a restriction enzyme were used for Candida spp. identification. We identified several species of Candida spp. including Candida parapsilosis complex, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida haemulonii complex, Candida albicans complex, Candida lusitaniae, and Candida guilliermondii by using PCR-RFLP. This investigation showed that coin-operated washing machines were contaminated with important opportunistic yeasts of Candida spp. Therefore, these devices should be maintained and cleaned regularly.

Repurposing Xylan Biowastes for Sustainable Household Detergents

Seeking sustainable and biocompatible detergent remains a big challenge. In this work, we report a new type of polysaccharide nanocrystal that is extracted from available industrial xylan biowastes via mild ammonium persulfate (APS) aqueous oxidation, which subsequently serves as a sustainable household detergent. By carefully adjusting the oxidation conditions (∼0.5 M, 60 °C), plate xylan hydrated nanocrystals (XNCs) can be accessed in reasonable yield (∼23%) with diameters of 30–50 nm and thicknesses of 5–12 nm. In comparison to the cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), the crystalline structure of XNCs demonstrates remarkable humidity-dependent behavior. Additionally, the acetylated xylan nanocrystals (AXNCs) exhibit high surface/interface activity to form stable Pickering emulsions, intriguing cleaning efficiency in removing stains from fabric surfaces, and the capability to de-wet oil from various types of tableware material. Seed germination, crop growth, and aquatic ecotoxicological evaluation demonstrate that AXNCs show no toxicity toward plants and zebrafish (median lethal concentration > 20,000 mg/L) with which they can be applied either as eco-friendly laundry or kitchen detergents. Our work presents a new avenue for converting industrial biowastes into sustainable household materials.

Bacillus Swezeyi B2 Strain: A Novel Alkaliphilic Bacterium Producer of Alkaline-, Thermal, Oxidant-, and Surfactant-Stable Protease, Extremely Efficient in Detergency.

Proteolytic enzymes that are currently used to meet industrial demand are usually derived from Bacillus species. They find multiple technical applications, particularly they have been increasingly used as a key bio-additive in detergents. In this study, a novel alkalophilic bacterium was isolated from contaminated soil, exhibiting 1400U/ml proteolytic activity, and identified as Bacillus swezeyi B2. The crude enzyme likely contained a single extracellular protease. This enzyme revealed optimum activity at pH 10 and 70°C and was highly alkaline thermostable (7-12.5) and up to 70°C. The protease activity was completely inhibited by Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) suggesting that it belongs to the serine protease group. It was highly stable in the presence of the strong anionic surfactant (SDS) and oxidizing agents (H2O2). The supernatant was lyophilized and showed high storage stability retaining 100% of its original activity after one year of conservation at 4°C. The lyophilized product was evaluated for its detergent efficacy, it revealed excellent compatibility with various laundry detergents keeping its full original activity after incubation for 1h with seven solid and liquid commercial detergents and it effectively removed chocolate stains at low washing temperature (40°C) and low supplementation level (125U/ml). The features of this single alkaline and thermotolerant protease, stable toward surfactants, oxidizing agents, and commercial detergents with stain removal efficacy support its ideal choice for supplementation in detergent formulations.