FASTREMOVE - The development of
innovative bio catalytic stain remover
DATE: March 2014
“Cooperation with business usually leads to development of
innovative and competitive products”
Monika Kavaliauskė
Head of Intellectual Property Management and Commercialization Department
FAST FACTS
PROJECT SUMMARY
Country or Region:
LITHUANIA
University:
VILNIUS UNIVERSITY (VU)
Business partners:

NAUJOJI RINGUVA Ltd
Area of UBC:

NAUJOJI RINGUVA production has a wide range of products
which include: body and hair care, laundry and cleaning,
professional cleaning and disinfection items. Company seeks to
use as much natural materials as possible. Therefore, enzymes,
which effectively break down protein, fat, naturally pigmented
stapins are used in washing products. In a world an express stain
removers are becoming increasingly popular, which can be used
immediately when the stain appears on the fabric.
NAUJOJI RINGUVA together with Sector of Applied Biocatalysis
from Institute of Biotechnology at Vilnius University carried out the
project with the aim to develop an enzymatic express stain
remover, which will effectively remove the stain from the fabric
and will not stay in it until the washing. By this way prescription of
stain will be reduced following the elimination of skin irritation
effect in comparison with stain removers which remains in the
fabric until washing.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
CASE STUDY IN DETAILS
Project start date:
April 2012
Project end date:
November 2013
Keywords:

Biocatalysis

Enzymes

Immobilization

"Express" stain remover

Household cleaning chemistry
Project Background and Needs
More than 3000 enzymes are known, however, only about 170 of
them are used for commercial purposes, of which about 20-30 %
of enzymes are employed in washing industry (washing powder,
detergents, etc.). The use of enzymes in these items has
significant ecological and economic effects: high energy
consumption is reduced (the use of enzymes for the purification of
tissues has led to a reduction in the consumption of energy and
water up to 50 %), enzymes are biodegradable, are not toxic and
do not cause allergy. NAUJOJI RINGUVA, is one of companies
which starts to expand the use of enzymes in their products.
During this collaboration project NAUJOJI RINGUVA and Institute
of Biotechnology at Vilnius University was seeking to develop an
innovative, easy to use, efficient and market demand product for
stain removing.
Project Solution from University’s Side

Development of methods for enzyme activity analysis
for individual enzymes and in a mixtures of enzymes,
which are easy to handle and apply not only in
laboratory, but also for industrial rutine analysis;
Page | 1
Key Objectives:

To develop biocatalytic stain remover,
which will effectively remove stains by the
effect of enzymes and their mixtures, and
not by the use of detergents.

To develop an express stain remover,
which will effectively remove the stain
from the fabric and will not stay in it until
the washing.

To expand NAUJOJI RINGUVA products
line with innovative and effective strain
remover product.
Lessons learned:

The closer cooperation, especially eye-toeye monthly meetings allowed better
understanding and assessment of needs
and possibilities by both parties in the
means of equipment, method and process
implication,
qualifications
and
specializations of human resources, etc.




Project Solution from Partner’s Side





University profile:
Vilnius University, one of the oldest and most
prominent higher schools in the Central and
East Europe, was established in 1579. The
University has 23 core academic and other
equivalent divisions – 12 Faculties, 2
Institutes with faculty rights, 5 research
institutes, and 4 inter-faculty Study and
research centres. There are about 20 000
students studying at the University. There are
4 371 employees working at the University, of
which 1 834 represent the teaching staff and
510 research workers. There are 1668
academic degree holders working at the
University. Vilnius University is distinguished
for its outstanding achievements in science
and carries out fundamental and applied
research in all areas of science.
Development of compositions of enzyme mixtures for
differential and multi-porpose stain removers;
Development of compositions and their preparation
methods in order to increase the stability of enzymatic
activities;
Development of composition and structure of “express”
stain remover based on carbomers and epoxy resins;
Development of process parameters for 0.01-0.1 L
strain remover production. research-based consulting.


Development of assessment methods for the mixtures
of enzymes and individual enzymes and their
properties;
Development of assessment methods for stain
removers based on carbomers;
Development of assessment methods for stain
removers based on epoxy resins;
Development of assessment methods for enzymatic
“express” stain remover;
Development of characterization parameters for
“express” stain remover;
Development of technology for preparation of spay and
roll-on stain removers, the composition of which are
based on enzymes;
Development of technology for preparation of enzymatic
“express” stain remover of 1 L scale.
Achievements and Impact
The creation process of "express" stain remover was oriented to
these main characteristics from client's perspective: the cloth
material does not need to be washed after the use of the product,
stain remover is efficient on different types of stains and act
quickly, the texture and colour of cloth material is not injured by
the stain remover.
Therefore, optimal composition of enzymes and the inter-effect of
all components in the recipe were determined. The effective
cleaning of various origin stains on the different cloth materials
was achieved as well. What is more, the created stain remover's
prototype is man and nature friendly.
Quantifiable Outputs for University

5 students engaged.

1 poster presented at 11th International Symposium on
Biocatalysis and Biotransformations (Biotrans2013).
Page | 2

105.000 EUR of funds attracted.
Quantifiable Outputs for Partner (s)
Innovative biocatalytic “express” stain remover was developed,
furthermore, roll-on stain removers were established using the
developed mixtures of enzymes.
CHECKLIST OF PREREQUISITES TO SUCCESS
Formal aspects

Formal practical level Co-operation Agreement is signed
between University and Partner(s) which defines
particular roles, outputs, reporting mechanisms and other
relevant aspects.

Project delivers measurable outputs (deliverables).

Project is related to at least one strategic priority of the
University.

Project is related to at least one strategic priority of the
Partner(s).
Financial and/or Infrastructure aspects

University invests financial resources in the project.

Co-operation Partner invests financial resources in the
project.

University invests infrastructure and/or material type (in
kind) resources in the project

Co-operation Partner invests infrastructure
material type (in kind) resources in the project

University gains monetary benefits from the project

Co-operation Partner gains monetary benefits from the
project

University gains non-monetary but measurable and
verifiable benefits from the project.

Co-operation
Partner
gains
non-monetary
measurable and verifiable benefits from the project.
and/or
but
Human capital aspects

University is devoting its human capital, know-how,
competence to the mutual cooperation, specifically,
academic staff, R&D staff, students, administrative staff.

Co-operation Partner is devoting its human capital, knowhow, competence to the mutual cooperation.

Clear roles and responsibilities are defined for University.
Page | 3

Clear roles and responsibilities are defined for Partner(s).
Marketing and communication aspects

Project and/or project results are communicated within
mass media channels.

Project and/or project results are presented in tradeshows, conferences, seminars, other marketing events.
Project and/or project results are communicated within
academic and/or scientific communication channels
(research papers, scientific conferences and activities).


Project and/or project results are communicated within
internal marketing and/or communication channels within
the University and/or Partner institution.

Project and/or project results have achieved positive
feedback from beneficiaries, customer(s), stakeholders,
or society at large.
For More Information
For more information about the case study
contact Monika Kavaliauskė on
monika.kavaliauske@ef.vu.lt
For more information about the project
“FROM BRIDGING TO SUCCEEDING.
University and Business Co-operation
Through Success Stories.” and for more case
studies visit www.university-business.net
For more information about the Nordplus
Horizontal programme visit
www.nordplusonline.org
This case study is for informational
purposes only. “KNOWLEDGE TRIANGLE
NETWORK” and “NORDPLUS Horizontal”
MAKE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
Page | 4