Abstract

The unique and distinctive texture of stingray skin is largely attributed to dermal denticles. These structures not only enhance the skin’s uniqueness but also contribute to its remarkable hardness and toughness, qualities that persist even after traditional lime-sulfide fibre-opening treatments. However, conventional beamhouse operations, utilizing sulphide for dehairing and liming for fibre disaggregation, face global environmental and health criticism due to their significant pollution impact. Sulphide, a toxic chemical, increases the chemical oxygen demand load in effluents from hair decomposition, while lime usage, constituting approximately 10% of the raw skins’ weight, results in substantial sludge production and disposal challenges. In response, this study explores the use of the enzyme xylanase for the depigmentation and disaggregation of the layered fibre structure in stingray skin. Following soaking, a 3% xylanase enzyme solution was applied, followed by pickling and chrome tanning. We assessed the structural and physical properties of the treated leathers and evaluated the pollution load parameters of the xylanase-assisted fibre-opening process. A comparative analysis with the traditional lime-sulphide process was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and environmental impact of the xylanase method. The results of this comparison are detailed herein, highlighting the potential of xylanase as a sustainable alternative in stingray leather processing.