Study of Alkaline Protease in Dehairing Process and Chestnut as Vegetable Tanning Agent

Abstract. Leather industry is one of essential industry in Indonesia, However, the production of
leather products produce load of pollutions. This study aims to analyze and focuses on the
addition of alkaline protease in the dehairing process and chestnut as a vegetable tanning agent
in goat skin in an attempt to minimize the usage of chemicals that were detrimental to the
environment despite generating good leather quality. In this study, 10 pieces of raw goat skin
were used and processed from soaking to basic dyeing process. The analysis of data used One-
Way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) to discover the differences between treatments. Treatments
were divided into 4 categories that were : P0: a control treatment (0% alkaline protease+ 3% H2S
and 6% limes + 25% mimosa), P1: 1% alkaline protease with 2% H2S and 5% limes + 25%
chestnut, P2: 1% alkaline protease with 1% H2S and 4% limes + 30% chestnut, P3: 2% alkaline
protease with 1% H2S and 4% limes + 25% chestnut and P4: 2% alkaline protease with 1% H2S
and 4% limes + 30% chestnut. The examination tested was the morphological observation by
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, and shrinkage
temperature. The SEM study indicates the addition of alkaline protease softens the goat skin,
nevertheless, there is a non-significant difference between treatments (P>0.05) on tensile
strength and elongation strength, however, there is a significant difference (P<0.05) on tear
strength and shrinkage temperature. The conclusion is treatment P4 (2% alkaline protease with
1% H2S and 4% limes + 30% chestnut) generates the best result