The effect of Aspergillus sp. as a bating agent in tanned goat’s skin on bending strength, paint fade, and protein level

Bating is a process of eroding proteins carried out in the process of tanning the skin to erode protein on the skin using protease activity. Feliderm is commonly used as a bating agent. However, the disadvantages of feliderm are relatively high cost, access to purchases is quite difficult, and not being environmentally friendly. Aspergillus sp. is widely known by the public for its use in fermenting soybeans to soy sauce, which is one of the producers of protease enzymes that can be utilized. The method used was an experimental trial using a Completely Randomized Design with 5 treatments and 3 replications, if there were significant influences followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test Method. The results show that Aspergillus sp. can be used to replace feliderm as a bating agent on goat’s skin leather tanning. The best result is T4 with the bending strength showing Nerf and the paint not cracking, the paint not fading at the value of 4/5, and the protein content with the value of 70,91%.