DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v25i5.111

Keywords: Keratinase; bacillus; peat soil; dehairing

Abstract

Dehairing is one important process in leather industry. The process was generally proceed chemically which is not environmental friendly. A greener process could be done using utilizing the keratinase secreted by bacteria. A preliminary study found that bacterial isolates, from the Peat Soil Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, were proven to decompose chicken feathers which proved its capability to produce This paper reports our work on the characterization of keratinase its potential to dehair goat skin. This research was conducted in several stages, they are (1) regeneration of Bacillus proteolyticus GAM 15, (2) keratinase production and determined protein content and feather weight loss, (3) determination of keratinase characteristics by pH, temperature, the effect of metal ions on the enzyme activity, the type of enzyme (4) identification of Gram type and the bacterial species based on 16S rRNA gen sequence, and (5) its application for dehairing agent. The results showed tha the isolate is a gram-positive bacteria with bacil cell shape. It has 100% homology with Bacillus proteolyticus. The keratinase enzyme secreted by Bacillus proteolyticus GAM 15 was proven to able decompose chicken feathers and produce the highest protein content on 3 days incubation time. The characterization results of the keratinase enzyme were metalloprotease and activity of keratinase increased when adding Ca2+, Mn2+, Co2+, and Ni3+.This enzyme can survive at pH 6,8, and 9. Furthermore, the optimum temperature of the keratinase enzyme activity at 52oC. Crude extract of the keratinase enzyme was effective for dehairing goat skin with 48 hours of incubation time.