Alpha amylase are important enzymes that are used fragments of starch molecules and further produce dextrins. Alpha amylase is widely used to ensure its wide range of applications across various industries. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware towards various environmental issues and hence use of alpha amylase is a good substitute to chemical catalysts. The universal nature and easy production process has made this compound preferable by all. This white paper studies the various aspects of alpha amylase, its formation and industrial applications. These are biological catalyst in nature and are indispensable components of various biological reactions, preferred over catalysts.

Alpha Amylase is an enzyme that act as starch degraders and are widely distributed in microbial, plants and across the animal kingdom. The starch is distributed and properties are produced that have characteristics of enzymes. Recently there has been a lot of innovation in terms of biotechnology and has led in development of number of enzymes that assist in the degradation process across various elements. Alpha Amylase belongs to the parent element of Amylase and other sub types are beta-amylase and Gamma amylase. It is crucial to the starch hydrolysis action and various actions that help starch and other activities that help in processing of hydrolysis. Like the production of glucose and fructose syrup from starch. Detergents use enzymes and the enzymes help in increased the stain removal capacity.

Alpha amylase can be produced from plants, microorganisms and animals. There are number of researches going on over the ways to produce alpha-amylase. There is an increased demand for microbial sources, due to increased growth of microorganisms and the rapid production speed of enzymes. Also these can be easily manipulated with the help of genetic engineering and various other methods. The production of alpha amylase can be improved by strain improvement and process like mutation. Alpha-amylase is produced by genetic modification of microbes that are bacteria and fungi. The Bacillus spp., B. licheniformis and B. amyloliquefaciens are some of the popular bacterial species being used for commercial production of various enzymes.

Alpha amylase are widely used in clinical and pharmaceutical industry along with bakery industry. It is important that enzymes used in these sectors need to be purified. There are various methods of purification and the traditional methods of precipitation, chromatography and liquid extraction are preferred by all. Depending upon the requirement there are various steps involved in alpha amylase purification process.

Characteristics of alpha-amylase

The characteristics of alpha-amylase are identified post the completion of purification process. This is typically done by the major hydrolysates received after the enzyme action. The samples are worked in with a gel like substance and the bands are then stained using supporting staining agents. There are various chemical process that are involved in identifying the appropriate characteristics. Some of the popular methods used for identifying the characteristics are Bacillus MNJ23 strain, Bio-Rad miniprotean II electrophoresis unit, size exclusion chromatography and similar other methods.

Industrial applications of alpha amylase

Alpha-Amylase is becoming popular due to its properties of starch hydrolyzing and the various associated activities. With respect to industrial applications there are number of applications as they have replaced the chemical methods of hydrolysis across industrial sectors. The various industrial applications of alpha amylase are listed below:

Detergent Industry

Use of alpha amylase in the production process of detergents has improved the methods of dishwashing and laundry done across the world. Users prefer to use milder detergents along with cold water as they keep the clothes in a better condition. Earlier chemicals used across detergents would harm the fabric and dishwasher too. Alpha amylase digests starch present in the food particles and further breaks it down for easy removal from dishes. The starch also attracts soil particles from clothes, to further maintain the whiteness of fabrics.

However, there are few disadvantages of using alpha amylase that is dependency of calcium and sensitivity towards oxidant. Restrictions are overcome by using alpha amylase from organisms that are genetically modified.

Fructose and Glucose Production

Fructose and glucose production is produced with the help of starch. There are three steps involved in the process known as Gelatinization, liquefaction and Saccharification. In the first step i.e. Gelatinization, the starch is dissolved in water to create a viscous suspension. During this time the amylase and amylopectin are distributed in the water. The liquefaction process involves small hydrolysis into short chain dextrin by alpha-amylase.the process of production of glucose and fructose syrup by hydrolysis is called as Saccharification. Together these actions result in a sweetener known as fructose syrup which is used in beverage industry.

Desizing of Textiles

Various modern day processes used in production in textile industry result in violation of the wrap thread. To improve the strength of thread, various sizing agents are used to improve the strength of thread by making a layer over it, which can be removed at a later stage. Starch is preferred due to its ease in availability and cost effectiveness. During the hydrolysis process alpha amylase is employed to split starch particles into soluble components that can be easily removed by washing and not affecting the overall fabric structure.

Bakery Industry:

Alpha-amylase is used to enhance the fermentation activity during the bread making process. Alpha amylase enhances the yeast activation process and gives the bread a uniform crust. It is widely used across various industrial bakeries wherein the bread quantity is more and needs to be produced in bulk. These are favored across the industry as opposed to the chemical substances being used.

Conclusion:

The growing demand of maintainable development has stimulated humans to use enzymes for different reactions due to biodegradable products due to biological sources. Alpha-amylase are produced with the help of microbes by SSF which employ products and waste products. Enzyme has important application that includes fructose syrup, detergents and bakery industry. Considering the current depleting sources of fossil fuel source need to create alternative forms of energy and this is where enzymes are expected to change the way.