The present invention relates to a novel process for substantially lime free dehairing and liming of skins/hides/pelts using metal silicate and an alkaline to obtain dehaired skins/hides/pelts of good quality and less polluted effluent from the dehairing process.

The present invention relates to a process for the tanning of animal hides characterised, compared to currently adopted processes, by the non-adoption of the step known in the industry as “pickling”. The invention also concerned hides tanned by said process.

A process for leather production from a raw animal hide includes the steps of pre-soaking, soaking, unhairing and liming, re-liming, deliming and bating, pickling and tanning, degreasing, re-tanning, neutralizing, dyeing and fatliquoring, and washing the processed hide. Waste liquid is collected from at least one of the foregoing steps is recycled to at least one of the foregoing steps. The collected waste liquid can be recycled to the same step, to a different step, or to two of more steps in the process.

The present invention relates to a process for the tanning of animal hides characterised, compared to currently adopted processes, by the non-adoption of the step known in the industry as pickling. The invention also concerned hides tanned by said process.

A fungal strain Beauveria species bearing accession number MTCC 5184 is disclosed. The process for the preparation of an enzyme mix including at least one enzyme selected from, but not limited to protease, carbohydrase, and lipase from the disclosed Beauveria species and uses of the enzyme mix in various areas also disclosed.

Methods for preparing an animal hide for chrome tanning are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments include treating the hide with a first enzyme, a second enzyme, and a polysulfide. This treatment facilitates improved removal of hair from the hide. Furthermore, one or more embodiments include various combinations of treating the hide with a third enzyme, a liming agent, a pH-modifying agent, one or more sulfides, and one or more soaking agents. In addition, one or more embodiments include sanitizing the hide and liming the hide to further facilitate the processing of the animal hide into leather.

Use of probiotic technology to support tanners to reduce waste and increase the value of by-products reducing the need of synthetic chemicals, improving the quality of effluents and reducing the carbon footprint to the environment. Probiotics or beneficial microorganisms are used to obtain biochemicals through a controlled fermentation of natural ingredients. The result of the process is a consortium of metabolites including viable probiotic microorganisms with properties very similar to traditional leather auxiliaries extensively needed during leather production, eliminating or reducing the need for use of toxic chemicals and compositions.

Methods for preparing an animal hide for chrome tanning are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments include treating the hide with a first enzyme, a second enzyme, and a polysulfide. This treatment facilitates improved removal of hair from the hide. Furthermore, one or more embodiments include various combinations of treating the hide with a third enzyme, a liming agent, a pH-modifying agent, one or more sulfides, and one or more soaking agents. In addition, one or more embodiments include sanitizing the hide and liming the hide to further facilitate the processing of the animal hide into leather.

A process for leather production from a raw animal hide includes the steps of pre-soaking, soaking, unhairing and liming, re-liming, deliming and bating, pickling and tanning, degreasing, re-tanning, neutralizing, dyeing and fatliquoring, and washing the processed hide. Waste liquid is collected from at least one of the foregoing steps is recycled to at least one of the foregoing steps. The collected waste liquid can be recycled to the same step, to a different step, or to two of more steps in the process.

The present invention relates to a method for the processing of hides or skins into leather, comprising enzymatic treatment of the hide or skin with carbohydrase in the soaking step. The present invention can achieve optimal fiber opening results in a relatively short period of time and at the same time does not cause loose grain, and meanwhile the pollution or impact on the environment is reduced in a maximum way.