Studies on Alkaline Protease from Bacillus crolab MTCC 5468 for Applications in Leather Making

Abstract

Bating has become an indispensable operation of leather makingto obtain good quality leather. Alkaline proteases are commonlyused in leather manufacture in the process of unhairing andbating of hides/skins. In this study, experiments were carried outto test the bating efficacy of a new alkaline protease obtainedfrom Bacillus crolab MTCC 5468 and compared with commercialbate. Impact of alkaline protease on porosity of enzymatically andconventionally unhaired goat skins, have been compared. Newenzyme treated pelt was free from scud and pigments, with fine,clean, white, silkier grain and pliable. The result was superior tothat of commercial bate treated pelts. The pore size/distributionand water vapor permeability was better than commercial bateand conventionally unhaired skins. Scanning electron microscopyand histological analysis of pelt obtained from new alkalineprotease based process reveals complete removal of scud andbetter opening up of collagen fibers. Moreover, the collagen wasnot damaged and resulted in good quality of leather. The physiochemicalstudies conclusively show that among the experiments,the skins unhaired with new alkaline protease was better incomfort properties than the conventionally unhaired skins asinferred by porosity measurements. Using new alkaline proteasefor bating led to better results than commercial bate. The studyindicates improved efficiency of bacterial alkaline protease inleather processing for beam house applications.