Fidia Fibriana, Hendra Febriyanto, Yeni Setyowati, Hilmi Amanah Aditya Cahyaningtyas, Benjamas Cheirsilp, Apichat Upaichit, Wasana Suyotha
The symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) has the potential to be developed into bioleather (BL). This study optimized BL production through one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) screening and Box-Behnken Design (BBD) by selecting suitable nutrient (C/N) sources, optimizing the key factors, and coloring with natural dyes (curcumin, red dragon fruit peel, and butterfly pea flower) for fashion accessory application. The optimum formulation (15% (w/v) palm sugar, 0.4% (w/v) black tea, inoculum: 7.5% (w/v) SCOBY pellicle +7.5% (v/v) starter culture) improved BL thickness to 1.78-fold (0.893 mm), tensile strength to 1.33-fold (15.81 MPa), swelling degree in water (>300%), moisture content (9.5%), and moisture regain (10.5%). Color fastness testing revealed red dragon fruit peel extract as the best colorant, and BL was successfully fabricated into a card holder. Compared to conventional animal leather, it offers competitive properties, biodegradability, reduced resource intensity, and animal-free production, underscoring its environmental benefits and practical potential for sustainable use. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd
Cluster of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, 50229, Indonesia; Department of Textile Chemistry, Bandung Polytechnic of Textile Technology, West Java, Bandung, 40272, Indonesia; Center of Excellence in Innovative Biotechnology for Sustainable Utilization of Bioresources, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90110, Thailand
