Bonilla-Espadas Manuela, Lifante-Martínez Irene, Camacho Mónica, Orgilés-Calpena Elena, Arán-Aís Francisca, Bertazzo Marcelo, Bonete María-José
INESCOP-Footwear Technological Centre, Alicante, Spain.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Environ Microbiol Rep. 2025 Jun;17(3):e70134. doi: 10.1111/1758-2229.70134.
Chromium-tanned leather waste poses significant environmental challenges due to its resistance to degradation and heavy metal content. This study investigates the potential of naturally selected microbial consortia to initiate the degradation of chromium-tanned leather and identifies key bacterial genera capable of tolerating chromium and producing enzymes relevant to collagen breakdown. A novel multidisciplinary approach combining gravimetric assays, metagenomic sequencing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to characterise both microbial composition and degradation dynamics. Dominant genera such as Bacillus, Microbacterium, and Acinetobacter were associated with collagen degradation and metal tolerance, with Bacillus-rich communities showing the most pronounced mass loss (up to 3%). SEM analysis revealed the formation of robust biofilms and extensive matrix disruption, indicating enzymatic activity and structural breakdown of the leather. The formation of exopolysaccharide-rich biofilms was found to be critical for microbial adhesion and biodegradation efficacy. These findings provide initial insights into microbial mechanisms involved in the degradation of chromium-tanned leather and suggest potential applications for microbial consortia in future sustainable leather waste management strategies.
由于铬鞣皮革废料具有抗降解性和重金属含量，它给环境带来了重大挑战。本研究调查了自然选择的微生物群落引发铬鞣皮革降解的潜力，并确定了能够耐受铬并产生与胶原蛋白分解相关酶的关键细菌属。采用了一种结合重量分析、宏基因组测序和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）的新型多学科方法来表征微生物组成和降解动态。芽孢杆菌属、微杆菌属和不动杆菌属等优势菌属与胶原蛋白降解和金属耐受性相关，富含芽孢杆菌的群落显示出最明显的质量损失（高达3%）。SEM分析揭示了坚固生物膜的形成和广泛的基质破坏，表明皮革的酶活性和结构分解。发现富含胞外多糖的生物膜的形成对于微生物粘附和生物降解功效至关重要。这些发现为铬鞣皮革降解所涉及的微生物机制提供了初步见解，并为微生物群落在未来可持续皮革废料管理策略中的潜在应用提供了建议。
