Environmental Applications of Aspergillus oryzae: Keratinase Production for Sustainable Dehairing and Heavy Metal Detoxification | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Botany | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 18 November 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Regular issue (Original Article) | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejbo.2025.377698.3271 | ||
| Author | ||
| Ahmed M. Abdulfattah* 1, 2 | ||
| 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia | ||
| 2Embryonic Stem Cell Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Keratinase enzymes show exceptional biotechnological promise, especially in sustained industrial uses like enzymatic dehairing as well as pollution cleaning. The research aims to explore the dual utility of Aspergillus oryzae in both industrial and environmental contexts. Aspergillus oryzae was isolated from soil samples collected from various factory areas in Alexandria, Egypt, with a focus on identifying keratinase-producing strains. The effectiveness of the keratinolytic enzyme was evaluated and optimized using the Blackett-Berman statistical method. Optimal conditions for enzyme activity were determined to be a temperature of 30°C, with glucose as the carbon source and ammonium nitrate as the nitrogen source. The enzyme was partially purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation, which increased its specific activity by 3.5-fold. The purified keratinase was then tested on cow and sheep pelts to assess its dehairing efficiency. Additionally, the fungus’s resistance to heavy metals such as chromium, lead, and cadmium was evaluated to determine its potential for bioremediation. The purified keratinase demonstrated superior hair removal efficiency, achieving over 90% hair removal from cow and sheep pelts within 48 hours, outperforming traditional chemical methods. Furthermore, Aspergillus oryzae exhibited significant resistance to heavy metals, suggesting its potential for bioremediation in industrial areas contaminated with these pollutants. The research highlights Aspergillus oryzae’s versatility as a biological agent in industrial processes like dehairing and heavy metal bioremediation, promoting sustainable dehairing and highlighting the dual benefits of A. oryzae in both industrial and environmental applications. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Aspergillus oryzae; Bioremediation; Dehairing; Keratinase; Statistical optimization | ||
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