Protease production and enzymatic soaking of salt-preserved buffalo hides for leather processing

Abstract

Response surface methodological (RSM) optimization of protease by Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCM B327, increased 1.3-fold activity with 1% inoculum having cell density of 27.57 x 109 cells mL-1 at pH 7, 300C and 72 h of incubation. Protease enzyme recovered from P. aeruginosa showed characteristic activities against diverse proteins of hide. Enzyme was found to be active with substrates e.g. casein, Bovine serum albumin, gelatin, elastin, haemoglobin but inactive against keratin and collagen. During leather manufacturing, non-collagenase and non-keratinase activities have advantageous in a quality leather and hair saving process, respectively. Increased proteolytic enzyme concentration (0.1-0.5%) in soaking process showed increased water penetration because of hydrolysis of albumin and elastin proteins as indicated by opened fibers in histopathological sections. These findings suggest, protease secreted by P. aeruginosa may have application in soaking operation of leather processing for minimizing harmful deharing chemicals and processing time.