화학공학소재연구정보센터
Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.35, No.5, 803-810, 2012
Optimization of the Biotechnological Process for Hide Unhairing in Substitution of Toxic Sulfides
Screening and isolation of a new Bacillus subtilis strain and production of its proteases for leather unhairing are described. B. subtilis strain BLBc 11 was isolated from the aerobic sludge of a tannery. Optimization of enzyme production by this bacterium was carried out using the Plackett-Burman and central composite design. Unhairing and inter-fibrillary removal capabilities were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and determination of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. Crude enzymatic extracts of B. subtilis BLBc 11 cultures were applied for the unhairing process of hides with excellent results, suggesting that this safe enzymatic preparation can replace the toxic chemicals commonly used in this process.