The optimization of the white hide deliming operation was studied. Generally, white hide contains both non-bonded and various amounts of strongly bonded lime. Initially, the processing costs of the deliming of non-bonded lime are relatively low. However, at a certain stage of the deliming process the processing costs begin to increase rapidly because of the strength of the lime bound to collagen, and at this point it is suitable to interrupt the washing with pure water and replace it with a deliming agent. Our paper, with the use of a mathematical-physical process model, offers a solution as to when the interruption should be done. Experimental determinations of sorption isotherm, as well as the effective diffusion coefficients are presented. The above mentioned parameters, economical and technological, serve as input data for a computer program.

During the usual air curing of cigar-filler tobacco the peroxidase activity decreases rapidly for 6 weeks and then becomes stabilized at a level approximately one-fifth the original. Detectable activity persists during storage for as long as 5 years. The presence of enzymatic activity demonstrates that protein is present in the fully cured and stored leaf.