Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol (2020) 172: 195–220
DOI: 10.1007/10_2019_95
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
Published online: 3 May 2019
Alkaliphilic Enzymes and Their Application
in Novel Leather Processing Technology
for Next-Generation Tanneries
Wycliffe C. Wanyonyi and Francis J. Mulaa
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 197
2 Conventional Leather Processing and Environmental Pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
3 Use of Enzymes in Tannery Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
4 Protease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
5 Enzymes from Extremophiles Microorganisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
6 Application of Protease in Cleaner Leather Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
7 Enzymatic Leather Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
7.1 Hide and Skin Sorting, Trimming and Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
7.2 Preparation for Skins and Hides for Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
7.3 Tanyard Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
8 Protease in Bioremediation of Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
9 Value-Added Product from Tannery Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
10 Novel Biotechnological Approaches for Transforming Tannery Waste into Bioproducts
Using Biocatalysts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
11 Bioinnovation Potential of Tannery Waste Biomass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
12 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Abstract Leather manufacturing involves conversion of raw skin and hides into
leather (stable material) through series of mechanical and chemical operations. The
leather industry has attracted public outcry due to severe environmental degradation,
pollution and health and safety risks. Currently the industry faces serious sustainability
challenge due to extensive use of toxic chemicals and generation of hazardous waste.
W. C. Wanyonyi
Department of Physical Sciences, School of Science and Technology, University of Kabianga,
Kericho, Kenya
e-mail: wwanyonyi@kabianga.ac.ke
F. J. Mulaa (*)
Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
e-mail: mulaafj@uonbi.ac.ke