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An Environmentally Friendly Mineral-Free Tanning of Animal Skins – Sustainable Approach with Plant Resources

Environmental Processes volume 7, pages 255–270 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

An eco-friendly mineral-free process for tanning has been developed in the present investigation, which is based on replenishable plant resources. Significant reduction in total dissolved solids and chlorides compared to conventional tanning method was observed in the new process. Tara and jatropha seed oil were employed for tanning of animal skins. The thermal and morphological characteristics, resistance to fungal and organoleptic properties of the tanned leathers were analyzed by using shrinkage, differential scanning calorimetric and thermo-mechanical analysis techniques. It has been proved that the properties of the tanned leathers are better than that of conventional vegetable tanned and comparable to chrome tanned leathers. The cross section of fibre structure indicates uniform structure and fibre bundles seem to be less dispersed when analyzed through scanning electron microscope. The tanned leathers exhibited better physico-chemical and organoleptic properties. The new tanning system also exhibited cost advantages due to reduction in chemicals consumption and savings due to reduced effluent treatment costs. The developed tanning process reduces the generation of toxic waste compared to mineral tannages, which reduces the environmental impacts. Hence, this techno-commercial study provided a viable and versatile solution for mineral-free tanning for commercially sustainable processing through cleaner process options.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leather Process Technology Department, CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Chennai, 600 020, India

    Victor John Sundar & Chellappa Muralidharan

Authors
  1. Victor John Sundar
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  2. Chellappa Muralidharan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victor John Sundar.

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Article Highlights

1. The skins are stabilized with replenishable tara and esterified jatropha seed oil

2. No common salt, chromium and solvents needed during processing.

3. Tara and esterified jatropha seed oil tanned leathers exhibit good strength and organoleptic characteristics.

4. Reduction of Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Total Dissolved Solids, Chlorides and chromium were achieved in effluent streams.

5. The tanned leathers revealed well oriented and aligned fibre structures with improved hydrothermal stabilities via intra- and inter-molecular cross linkage.

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Appendices

Appendix 1

Process

Wattle (%)

Wattle with jatropha oil (%)

Tara with jatropha oil (%)

Duration (min)

Pickling

    

Water

100

100

100

 

Common salt

10

–

–

15

Formic acid

0.5

1.0

1.0

3 × 10

Sulphuric acid

1.5

–

–

3 × 10 + 60

Depickling

    

Water

100

–

–

30

Common salt

5

–

–

90

Sodium formate

1.75

–

–

60

Pretanning syntan

2

–

–

 

Tanning

    

Water

50

50

50

 

Wattle

10

10

–

60

Wattle

10

–

–

120

Synthetic preservative

0.75

–

–

45

Tara

–

–

10

60

Esterified Jatropha seed oil

 

10

10

120

Myrob Powder

5

–

–

90

Pungam oil

10

–

–

60

  1. The tanned leathers were set, hooked to dry and conditioned as being done for vegetable tanned leathers conventionally

Appendix 2

Process

Chrome Tanning (%)

Duration (min)

Pickling

Water

100

 

Common salt

10

15

Formic acid

0.5

3 × 10

Sulphuric acid

1.5

3 × 10 + 60

After obtaining pH 2.9, 50% Float was drained

Tanning

Basic chromium sulphate

4

60

Basic chromium sulphate

4

90

Water

100

30

Sodium formate

1

45

Sodium bicarbonate

0.75

120

  1. pH was adjusted to 4.0 and skins were aged for 48 h

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Sundar, V.J., Muralidharan, C. An Environmentally Friendly Mineral-Free Tanning of Animal Skins – Sustainable Approach with Plant Resources. Environ. Process. 7, 255–270 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-020-00422-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-020-00422-x

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