Cleaner degreasing of sheepskins by the Yarrowia lipolytica LIP2 lipase as a chemical-free alternative in leather industry

Emna Moujehed (1, 2, 3, 4) , Zied Zarai (1, 5) , Haifa Khemir (3) , Neila Miled (3) , Mohamed Salah Bchir (4) , Corinne Gablin (2) , François Bessueille (2) , Anne Bonhommé (2) , Didier Leonard (2) , Frédéric Carrière (6) , Ahmed Aloulou (1)

1 LGBEL - Laboratory of Biochemistry and Enzymatic Engineering of Lipases
2 ISA-Surfaces
3 Natl Ctr Leather & Footwear
4 SO SA CUIR Tanning Co
5 Higher Inst Biotechnol Sfax
6 BIP - Bioénergétique et Ingénierie des Protéines

Conventional degreasing of skins and hides in the leather industry requires high amounts of organic solvents and detergents that cause environmental issues. In this study, the LIP2 lipase from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica (YLLIP2) was shown to be effective in degreasing sheepskins, thus reducing the amount of harmful chemicals. Using 10 mg of lipase/kg of raw skin, successful degreasing was achieved in only 15 min at pH 7. ToF-SIMS mass spectra of sheepskins were compared before and after degreasing (chemically and enzymatically). Results are consistent with a specific selective elimination process for the enzymatic treatment. Comparative SEM microscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses showed better properties of the enzymatically treated leather than those of the chemically treated leather. Effluent physicochemical parameters showed that the enzymatic treatment is a cleaner degreasing alternative.

Mots clés: Yarrowia lipolytica LIP2 lipase; Enzymatic degreasing; Leather industry

Domaines: Biotechnologies; Chimie; Matériaux

Emna Moujehed, Zied Zarai, Haifa Khemir, Neila Miled, Mohamed Salah Bchir, et al.. Cleaner degreasing of sheepskins by the Yarrowia lipolytica LIP2 lipase as a chemical-free alternative in leather industry. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2022, 211, pp.112292. ⟨10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112292⟩. ⟨hal-03494701⟩