New Delhi, Nov 04: THE world’s leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, of Denmark has approached Delhi University’s Department of Microbiology to buy technology developed by it that will enable biological manufacturing of leather.
The department of industrial microbiology, under the Department of Microbiology at the University’s South Campus, is working overtime to nail the deal which could take a year. However, the department is confident that they will deliver despite international competition.

Says Professor R K Saxena, head of the industrial microbiology department: ‘‘All leather in the world today is produced chemically or assisted by enzymes. However, leather can be completely produced biologically through enzymes that will make it environmentally friendly at a cheaper cost and of better quality.’’

Chemicals such as sulphides, ammonium chloride and alkaline solutions are used to destroy the hair on the hide and remove the fat in order to get the leather.
While tanneries across the world have shifted to enzyme-assisted procedures, chemicals still play the key role. The waste water from these chemicals are very polluting.

However, the technology developed by Saxena and his department in collaboration with the Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, not only guarantees an environmentally-friendly process but also a more economical one.

Says Saxena, ‘‘It’s all about economics. If the procedure is not cheaper and less time consuming, then we can never sell it. So far we can safely say that it is 40 per cent cheaper and will produce better quality leather but we are still working more on bulk productions.’’

Saxena says enzymes Proteases and Lipases can be used for removal of hair and fat, respectively. The waste from this can also be used as bio-fertilisers or cattlefeed. Saxena feels enzymes have a lot of scope in the paper, textile and bakery industry.
A specialist in industrial microbiology, Saxena has been working with enzymes — being labelled internationally as the natural solution to industrial problems — for the past 25 years.

Saxena is already dreaming of another breakthrough. He says hair removal on humans which is often done with chemicals can be done biologically. ‘‘It is possible that in future, products having Proteases and Lipases could be developed as creams and ointments for use on human skin,’’ he says.