The
detergent industry has now emerged as the single
major consumer of several hydrolytic enzymes acting
at highly alkaline pH. The major use of detergentcompatible
proteases is in laundry detergent formulations.
Alkaline proteases of bacterial (including
those from alkalophiles, organisms whose optimal
rate of growth is observed at least two pH units
above neutrality), fungal and insect origin can be, or
are exploited commercially and are reviewed in
detail here.