Opuntia ficus-indica Extract as a Sustainable Solution for Skins and Hides Unhairing

Abstract

With increasing awareness of environmental repercussions stemming from the leather industry, the pursuit of plant-based unhairing methodologies has gained substantial research momentum. This study unveils an innovative strategy capable of thorough sheepskin unhairing within a remarkably brief span of 6 hours. This approach is promising because it leverages the synergistic potential of potassium/calcium thioglycolate to dismantle disulfide bonds in keratin and fortify the process with zinc substances to enhance collagen attributes and skin texture. In addition, the inherent natural antioxidants present in plants mitigate microbial proliferation. By employing various concentrations and durations, the chemical formulation was systematically applied to nine distinct samples, culminating in an optimal outcome marked by 80 mL of Opuntia ficus-indicasolution. This treatment resulted in a noteworthy enhancement in collagen integrity and skin texture, with profound penetration of the chemical into the skin matrix, thereby ensuring efficacious permeation. Critically, the inclusion of collagenase inhibitor constituents within the enzyme composition precluded collagen degradation, ultimately yielding premium-grade leather that not only adheres to but also surpasses industry benchmarks, as substantiated by meticulous tensile and tear tests. Leathers crafted via this innovative paradigm consistently demonstrated superiority, thereby underscoring the merits of this approach in fostering sustainable leather production.