| Abstract [eng] |
The application of biotechnologies by tanneries has increased in recent years. Enzymes can be applied for different steps of the leather production process: soaking, unhairing, bating, dyeing, degreasing or in effluent and solid waste treatment. Currently, the enzymes have become irreplaceable for bating of hide/skin. Bating determines the following processes and the final quality of product. It is very important to know as much as we can about the process itself and the enzyme preparations used. UAB „Baltijos Enzimai“ recently released some new enzyme preparations. Few of the enzyme preparations have proteolytic activity. It is very useful to investigate the possible adaptability of these enzyme preparations in leather industry to expand the assortment of enzyme preparations suitable for leather processing. During this project, the studies of enzyme preparation Vilzim Pro Alk action were carried out. The effect of the enzyme preparation on shrinkage temperature of hide, collagen proteins removed from hide during bating and pickling processes, porosity, amount of chromium compounds, matter soluble in dichloromethane and mechanical properties of fatliquored leather was determined. Structural changes of leather were assessed by IR spectroscopy. Based on the results of this study the optimal conditions were determined for the use of enzyme preparation Vilzim Pro Alk in hide bating process. Laboratory results had been tested under industrial conditions when fatliquored leather (crust) was produced. The bating of pelt was carried out adding 0.0025 % (based on pelt mass) of enzyme preparation Vilzim Pro Alk. The product (crust) obtained after subsequent leather manufactory processes absolutely met requirements for this type of leather. Results of this stydy show that enzyme preparation Vilzim Pro Alk can be used successfully for bating of hides. |
