Reducing the Risk of Grain Damage during Bating of Leather Manufacturing An Alternative to Pancreatic Enzymes with Alkaline Protease from Novel Bacillus Subtilis SCK6

Abstract

Bating, using trypsin to treat delimed pelts for centuries, is the essential biotechnique in leather making processing. In this paper, the bating effects of the protease from Bacillus subtilis SCK6 to reduce the potential risk of grain pattern damage were evaluated. Activity performance of alkaline protease in bating condition was similar with trypsin. Bating of hides for furniture leather could be accomplished at a temperature range of 30°C to 40°C. Comparing with trypsin bating, the hydroxyproline concentration in alkaline protease bating liquors was lower and Cr distribution in chrome tanned leather was more even. In comparison with the trypsin treated leather, histology analysis and scanning electron microscopic graphics of alkaline protease bating pelts and leather shows less collagen damage and reduced looseness of collagen fiber and increased smoothness of grain surface. These outcomes suggest that the novel alkaline protease could be applied in bating procedure to reduce the risk of grain damage and the shortage of trypsin for leather production.