Abstract: In a process for the preparation of tannable pelts from animal skins or hides wherein concurrent soaking, unhairing, opening up of the hide structure, and bating are effected in a single procedural step by treatment with enzymes in an aqueous bath containing enzymes, the improvement wherein the enzymatic treating bath is free of amines and comprises dissolved therein:A. an effective amount of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a fungus protease whose optimum efficacy towards casein is at a pH above 7.0, trypsin, papain, and a bacterial protease whose optimum efficacy is at a pH between 6 and 9;B. an effective amount of a bacterial protease having an optimum efficacy against hemoglobin at a pH above 9; andC. an effective amount of thioglycolic acid or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A method for bating soaked, limed, dehaired hides with an enzyme mixture of (a) a bacterial protease having an optimum efficacy toward hemoglobin at a pH from 10 to 12 and (b) a fungus protease having an optimum efficacy toward casein at a pH greater than 7, or a neutral to weakly alkaline bacterial protease, papain, or trypsin.