Industrial enzymes: Characteristics
Activity, stability and surviving the customer's process
Activity, stability and surviving the customer's process What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Enzymes are sold on activity per gram, stability and specificity. Buyers care whether an enzyme survives the temperature, pH and chemicals of their process: detergent proteases must work with bleach at 20 C; feed phytase must survive pelleting at 80-90 C (indicative).
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity | units per gram (e.g. FTU for phytase, KNU for amylase) | Sets dose and price | indicative |
| Thermostability | varies; feed enzymes coated for pelleting | Determines where it can be used | indicative |
| Production organism | GMO or non-GMO, food-safe strain | Affects approvals and labelling | indicative |
Commercial grades
- Liquid concentrates
- Coated granules (detergent, feed)
- Food grade (JECFA)
- Non-GMO and organic-compatible
- Molecular biology grade