• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.635-638
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• 1999

The effect of proteolytic enzyme on the unhairing process has been studied. this enzyme significantly changed the physical properties of pelt for leather shoes. A SEM was used to examine physical properties of the pelt. Even though bio-tech treatment using proteolytic enzyme slightly reduced the degree of unhairing compared to chemical treatment. Physical property of the pelt is better and this method is environmentally favorable. $H_{2}S$ gas produced in the chemical treatment was not detected and the value of COD and BOD for waste water after the unhairing process were reduced to 939 mg/L and 5268 mg/L, respectively. We found that a process with 0.4~0.5% proteolytic enzyme for 20 h at $29{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ is most suitable for the unhairing process.