Solomon, Kiros (PhD)M.K., Gowthaman (PhD)Biniyam, Abdissa2018-12-192023-11-282018-12-192023-11-282018-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/15198Amylases are important hydrolase enzymes which have been widely used since many decades. αAmylase is in maximum demand due to its wide range of applications and plays a pivotal role such as leather making process. Due to absence of cheap and effective extraction method, it mostly leads to loss of enzyme activity as well as waste of crude enzyme extract. This present work is concerned with characterization and studies to maximize and optimize the extraction process using fabricated extractor column from bacterial culture under solid state fermentation (SSF) using agro industrial residue for fiber opening. Various process parameters are optimized for maximum extraction of enzyme. The finding of the study suggests that, the optimum condition for maximum amylase extraction with medium sized wheat bran at pH of 7.1 and temperature of 30 0 C yields 1332.31 U/gds and 2374.51 U/gds in solid state fermentation media respectively. In continuous column extraction process with optimum buffer flowing at rate of 100ml/min and optimum bed volume of 200gm provides a maximum activity of 1081.8 U/gds. Comparing batch with column system of extraction, the combined activity shows 114.89 and 551.3 U/gds respectively. Moreover, by comparing the conventional with experimental method of extraction, it shows a combined activity of 347.7 and 450.5 U/gds respectively. Hence the total yield of column extraction process shows 75% higher as compared with batch system and conventional method of enzyme extraction process. In order to check the benefits of α-amylase, the crude enzyme extract is partially purified before applying it on leather. In an attempt to reduce the pollution load from pre tanning operation, a concentrated amylase is applied on goat skin. Hence, studying the effect of fiber opening between enzymatic and chemical process by various tests were carried out. The finding revealed that the extracted enzyme releases 7.3 mg/gm of proteoglycans after enzyme treatment. The effect of fiber splitting on the strength properties related morphological changes of the crust leather samples were thoroughly investigated. SEM analysis was also carried out. According to the result an economical enzyme produced in this study shows a significant release of inter fibrillary materials. The strength property of crust leather shows tensile strength of 216.4 Kg/cm 3 , tear strength of 42.76 Kg/cm and 62.17% elongation at break.en-USα-amylasebacillus subtilliscolumn extraction systemrust leatherenzyme extraction optimizationproteoglycan releasesolid state fermentationThesis