Optimization of Washing Conditions with Lipase by Response Surface Methodology

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the washing conditions. A four-factorial three-level Box-Behnken partial orthogonal design was chosen to explain the washing process based on four critical factors, detergent concentration, lipase concentration, washing temperature and buffer pH. According to the responses from the experimental model, the effects of each variable were assessed and the interactions between variables were also determined. The experiment suggested that the optimal conditions for removal of olive oil from the cotton fabrics were 0.60g/L detergent, 4.37g/L lipase, washing temperature of 25.06 and buffer pH of 7.29. By actual washing confirmation, the wetting time of the washed fabric under the optimal condition was 0.51s. Home laundry could be conducted at low temperature with addition of lipase.