Why are your Enzyme Kits Not Working?

So, you've tried using an enzyme kit, but for some reason, it's just not working as you expected.

Enzyme Kits are usually a great choice when you need a quick option to test how biocatalysts work in your chemical process or you need a low ticket solution because you’re dealing with a tight budget. However, they might not be meeting your particular needs or working well under your specific conditions.

Don't worry – you're not alone. Let's dive into 3 reasons why an enzyme kit might not be working for you right now:

1. Lack of Specificity

One of the biggest issues with enzyme kits is their lack of specificity. These kits are designed for general use, which means they may not be perfectly tailored to your company's unique needs.

For example… Let's say you're an industrial bakery trying to improve the texture of your bread. You purchase an enzyme kit for dough improvement, but despite following the instructions, you don't see the results you were hoping for.

Why? Because the enzymes in the kit may not be optimized for your specific flour blend or baking process.

2. Compatibility Issues

Another common problem with enzyme kits is compatibility. Enzymes are finicky molecules, and they need the right conditions to work. If the enzymes in the kit aren't compatible with your production environment or other ingredients in your recipe, you're likely to run into trouble.

For example… Imagine you're a winery looking to clarify your wine using enzymes. You purchase an enzyme kit, but after adding it to your wine, you notice strange flavors and aromas developing.

Why? Because as it turns out, the enzymes in the kit interacted poorly with certain compounds in your wine, leading to off-flavors.

3. Suboptimal Performance

Lastly, let's talk about performance. Enzyme kits may promise great results, but can sometimes fall short of expectations. Whether it's due to suboptimal enzyme activity, limited enzyme concentrations, or insufficient enzyme stability, there are many factors that can contribute to poor performance.

For example… Suppose you're a biofuel producer aiming to increase ethanol yield from biomass using enzymes. You purchase an enzyme kit marketed for biomass conversion, but despite using the recommended dosage, you only see marginal improvements in ethanol production.

Why? Because the enzymes in the kit may not be robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions of biomass pretreatment and hydrolysis, resulting in lower-than-expected yields.

Does this mean you should stop using enzyme kits? Not at all!

As we mentioned before, these types of kits are a good starting point for some manufacturers who’re looking for immediacy and low ticket solutions to their biocatalysis needs.

Just remember that the successful application of industrial enzymes into a chemical process involves a lot of factors; like achieving the desired activity, specificity, stability or tolerance to other matrices of the enzyme to perform effectively. And since each industrial process is unique, enzyme kits may not always meet all your requirements.

Make sure you perform a good analysis of your needs and conditions beforehand. Hopefully this review will help you with that!