Alkaline protease for an efficacious rehydration of skin matrix by a novel Bacillus crolab MTCC 5468 in sustainable leather production: a green approach.

Objectives: The utilization of biotechnology in leather sector has more extensive in modern years; more particular to proteolytic enzymes and employed in several steps of the leather making such as soaking, dehairing, bating, solid waste management etc. The current study evaluates the performance of alkaline protease from Bacillus crolab MTCC 5468 in single soaking of goat skins matrix by comparing with the conventional multiple soaking processes.

Results: According to the obtained results, the optimum concentration for maximum rehydration of goat skins was accomplished at 1.

Cleaner processing: a sulphide-free approach for depilation of skins.

The conventional unhairing process in leather making utilises large amount of lime and sodium sulphide which is hazardous and poses serious waste disposal concerns. Under acidic conditions, sodium sulphide liberates significant quantities of hydrogen sulphide which causes frequent fatal accidents. Further, the conventional unhairing process involves destruction of the hair leading to increased levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) in the effluent.