Advanced Cleaning Mechanisms: Cold or Warm for Proteins?

Q: Many of your Tergazyme related TechNotes and recommendations include warm temperatures.  Warm temperatures can still denature some hormones and proteins thus causing cleaning problems.  I would probably start with a cool (room temp or cooler) rinse (water).  Then move to the 1-2% cleaning solution in warmer temperatures.  Agreed?

A: Thanks for reaching out.  And you are correct.  There is a fine point between the warmer (not hot) temperatures at which the enzymes in Tergazyme detergent are most effective, and a non-denatured protein which is easier to emulsify (but harder to enzymatically cleave – in the case of Tergazyme detergent enzymes – at the serine bonds) . 

Experience has shown our chemists that the synergy of enzymatic and emulsifying activity is typically most effective at these warmer -again not hot – temperatures.  Emulsification is still a very key cleaning mechanism in this protein cleaning and removal process. However, not all proteins are created equal, and it many cases ambient could be best.

There is also the notion that heating accelerates cleaning (for many but not all residues), largely following the Arrhenius principle.

Again, every application is different.  Denaturing conditions of different hormones and proteins can vary. Our experience does note the robustness of Tergazyme detergent is often quite “forgiving” over a range of cleaning conditions. It gets the job done of cleaning stubborn protein residue over a host of conditions, instruments and applications due to not just emulsification and enzymatic activity, but chelation and dispersion as well.

Thanks so much for your insight and we are always happy to dive in to your particular application.

Check out our fun Tergazyme video for more info….

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