Modification of the activity of an a-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis by several surfactants Bravo Rodríguez, Vicente Jurado Alameda, Encarnación Martínez Gallegos, Juan Francisco Reyes Requena, Antonia García López, Ana Isabel Sampaio Cabral, Joaquim Manuel Fernandes, Pedro Pina da Fonseca, Luis Joaquim α-amylase Alkyl polyglycosides Enzymatic activity Fatty alcohol ethoxylates Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate Nonyl phenol ethoxylate The influence of different commercial surfactants on the enzymatic activity of a commercial α-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis (Termamyl 300 L) has been studied. As non-ionic surfactants, alkyl polyglycosides (Glucopon® 215, Glucopon® 600 and Glucopon® 650) were studied, as were fatty alcohol ethoxylates (Findet 1214N/23 and Findet 10/15), and nonyl phenol ethoxylate (Findet 9Q/21.5NF). Also, an anionic surfactant, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS) was assayed. In general, none of the non-ionic surfactants studied, except Findet 10/15, vary substantially the enzymatic activity. Findet 10/15 has the strongest hydrophobic character and reduces the enzymatic activity more significantly the greater its concentration. Regarding LAS, this surfactant significantly depressed enzymatic activity, presumably due to the electrostatic interactions caused by its anionic character. 2014-07-16T09:47:37Z 2014-07-16T09:47:37Z 2006 journal article Bravo Rodríguez, V.; et al. Modification of the activity of an a-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis by several surfactants. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, 9(5): 566-571 (2006). [http://hdl.handle.net/10481/32690] 0717-3458 http://hdl.handle.net/10481/32690 10.2225/vol9-issue5-fulltext-16 eng open access Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile)