Microbiology for Leather Technology

B Sc (Chemical Engineering) Leather technology specialization By Central Leather Research Institute, India Leather Industry Development Institute, Ethiopia

Microbiology for Leather Technology

B Sc (Chemical Engineering) Leather technology specialization By Central Leather Research Institute, India Leather Industry Development Institute, Ethiopia

Introduction to Microbiology

What is Microbiology?
Microbiology is the study of

microorganisms.

What are microorganisms then?

Mikrs (Greek) : Small; Organisms (Greek) : Organisms

They are simple life forms They are not visible to naked eyes

History
The hypothesis of existence of microorganisms was put

forth much before the actual discovery

The existence of microorganisms was postulated by

Jainism based on Mahavirs preaching in 6 BC

History
Girolamo Fracastoro an Italian physician

in 1546 proposed that the epidemic diseases were caused by transferable seed like entities
Robert Hook (Netherland, 1632 - 1723) in

1665, recorded first microscopic observation of fruiting bodies of molds

History
Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek (Netherland,

1632 - 1723) in 1676, invented single lens microscope and observed microorganisms in water, vinegar and wine; called them animalcules

Edward Jenner (English, 1749 - 1823) in

1796 developed small pox vaccine

History
Luis Pasteur (French, 1822 - 1895)

disproved spontaneous generation theory, discovered pasteurization, invented vaccines for anthrax and rabies
Robert Koch (German, 1843 - 1910)

invented methods to purify Bacillus from blood samples and developed pure cultures

Naming Microorganisms
Hierarchy of microbial taxonomy

Organism used in yogurt

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Subspecies : Bacteria : Firmicutes : Bacilli : Lactobacillales : Lactobacillaceae : Lactobacillus : L. delbrueckii : L. d. bulgaricus

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Subspecies

production

Kingdom of Microorganisms

Bacteria

Bacterial cell and organelles

Five structural components of bacterial cell are
Nucleoid (DNA) Ribosomes Cell membrane Cell wall Surface layer

Three architectural regions

Appendages (pili or flagella) Cell envelope (contains capsule, cell wall and plasma membrane) Cytoplasmic region (chromosomes and ribosomes)

Characteristics of Bacteria
Bacteria ranges from 0.2 to 2 m diameter and

2 to 8 m length
There are three basic shapes

Spherical (cocci) Rod (bacili) Spiral

Bacteria divide by binary fission (splitting into

two); single DNA molecules replicates and both copies attach to cell membrane; cell membrane begins to grow between two DNA molecules; cell membrane then begins to pinch inward

Growth of Bacteria

Growth Factors of Bacteria

Growth factors
Carbon and energy source Temperature pH Moisture

Inhibitors and retarders

Salt Biocides

Fungi - Basic facts

Eukaryotic and non-photosynthetic Aerobic or facultative anaerobic Chemoheterotrophic (use chemicals for carbon and energy) Unicellular or multi-cellular

Fungi - Morphology
Most fungi grow as hyphae

-cylindrical; 2 to 10 m diameter and several cm long

New hyphae is emerged fro the

tips of existing hyphae by branching

Hyphae can be septate or
Penicillin 1. Hypha; 2. Conidiophore; 3. Phialide; Conidia; 5. Septa

4.

coenocytic
Mycelium is the interlocked

network of hyphae

Fungi - Morphology
Septate hyphae are

compartmentalized and each comportment is a cell

Coenocytic are not

compartmentalized
Septa have spores that allow

cytoplasm, organelles and sometimes nuclei to pass through

Fungi - Reproduction

Yeasts - Basic Facts

Eukaryotic microorganism of the kingdom

of Fungi
Unicellular with few exceptions

Typically 3 to 4 m in diameter may be 40

m in some cases
Most reproduce asexually by mitosis

Our Life with Microorganisms

What happens when milk curdles? Why wine is sour but grape juice is not? Why the body temperature goes up when we are infected? Do you know peptic ulcer is caused by a bacteria? Why in cold weather curdling is not favored? Do you know synthetic human insulin is produced by engineered bacteria? What is happening in a septic tank? Do you know penicillin is produced by a fungi? Do you know there are carcinogenic fungi?

Leather Microbiology

Putrefaction
Lysozyme initiates the denaturation of animal skin or hide after removal This process of autolysis is followed by microbial growth Microorganisms, particularly bacteria beaks down the skin components mainly the proteins into simpler compounds Bacteria derive energy and obtain carbon from the proteins This process is putrefaction

Effect of Bacterial Growth on Skin

Red heat Grain disturbance (snuffed effect) Loss of substance (over batted effect) Hair slip

Control of Putrefaction
Putrefaction can be controlled either by controlling the growth factors or by administering retarders Growth factors such as moisture, temperature and pH can be controlled to control bacterial growth (Eg.: drying, salting, chilling, freezing, pickling) Growth retarders (salt or bactericides) can also be used for preventing putrefaction

Fellmongering
As soon as the skin or hide is removed from the animal the autolytic process sets on (lysozyme acts) Following autolysis, the bacteria grows on skin or hide Bacteria secure carbon and energy from skin components particularly proteins Disadvantage is that the process can seldom be controlled; and leather making material is also denatured

Fungal Growth on Tanned Leather

Tanned leathers are not easily susceptible to bacterial growth; but they are much susceptible to fungal growth Fungus such as A. niger, A. flavus, T. viride grow on tanned leather Fungal growth can be controlled by administering appropriate fungicide

Effect of Fungal Growth on Leather

Fungus may leave permanent stain on leather may disturb the grain Fungus at the outset breaks the tannin-collagen link through polyphenol oxidase and laccase then protease and lipase are secreted and the leather making substance also disintegrated

Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins and act as (bio)catalysts; accelerating biochemical reactions They can be sourced from animals, plants and microorganisms Enzymes such as protease, lipase, amylase and xylanase are used in leather manufacturing and they are produced using microorganisms

Wastewater Treatment
Bacteria (both aerobic and anaerobic) are used for the treatment of wastewater In Activated Sludge Process (ASP) aerobic bacteria are used for breaking down the organic pollutants In anaerobic lagoon and UASB anaerobic organisms are used

Thank you