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A new green technology for processing leather has been developed at the Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai. This technology employs the use of biocatalysts for reducing the quantity of environmental contaminants.
Enzymes that decrease the emission of hazardous materials during the tanning and pre-tanning of leather by almost 90% have been adopted by this technology. This information was revealed by P Thanikaivelan, senior scientist in CLRI.
Enzymes like carbohydrases, proteases and proteolytic have been used for replacing the conventional steps of cleansing, rehydration, de-hairing, bating and degreasing.
"These biocataylsts perform chemical transformations on organic compounds which are otherwise performed by conducting chemical reactions," Thanikaivelan said.
Conventional pre-tanning of leather provides for 70% of the emission loads.
