Microbes as household cleaning ingredients: Challenges and opportunities

Monday, May 1, 2023

12:40 PM – 1:00 PM MDT

Room: 402

Presenting Author(s)

Alan House, PhD

Sr. Scientist
Novozymes North America Inc.
Durham, NC, United States

Co-Author(s)

Michael Furlan, MSc

Associate Scientist
Novozymes North America, Inc.
Durham, NC, United States
TK

Tiffany Kwan

Scientist
Novozymes North America, Inc., United States
SA

Stacy Arnold

External
Novozymes North America, Inc., United States
YN

Yaashviny Nair

Associate Marketing Manager
Novozymes North America, Inc., United States
JH

John R. Harp

Deployment Team Manager
Novozymes North America, Inc., United States

Abstract: Household cleaners continue to advance with ingredient offerings that meet consumer demands for more sustainable and gentle, yet efficacious and satisfying cleaning. Adding microbes to cleaning formulations is not new. It is, in fact, gaining consumer awareness and acceptance. This presentation will focus on spores from the bacterial genera Bacillus. We’ll highlight some of the ways bacteria can contribute to household cleaning – in addition to constraints on their function, such as household moisture and also cleaner chemical formulation compatibility. We use qualitative techniques, such as light microscopy and traditional agar plating to show that Bacillus can accumulate in unseen surface cracks, and in the right conditions, can secrete enzymes that breakdown kitchen soils such as milk or starch. We also use agar plating to explore cleaning formulation and spray application effects. Aspects related to safe handling and product use will also be presented. AOCS members who work with surfactants and formulations of household or commercial cleaners may find this discussion of microbial cleaning ingredients relevant.