Abstract
The use of natural materials that is eco-friendly on leather as vegetable tannins has become a matter of significant importance, as a result of increased environmental awareness to prevent some hazardous synthetic tannin. Therefore, this study investigated that the potential of the extracted tannin from Sodom apple (Solanum Incanum) fruit for its effectiveness as vegetable tanning agent on goatskins. It was extracted with distilled water, methanol, petroleum ether and ethanol by using Soxhlet extraction method. Although the amount of material extracted was significant in all extracting solvents, water was a more efficient solvent (extraction yield of 16.71%) than the others. The qualitative analysis and structural characterization of the extracts were done using thin layer chromatography (TLC), Ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer and Fourier Transformer Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. The analysis confirmed that the presence of condensed tannins in the extract, which usually used for the application of tanning process in leather manufacturing industry. On other hand, the Quantitative Analysis of Sodom apple fruit extract was conducted by evaluating its moisture content (7.59%), total soluble solids (21.45%), tannin content (12.13%) and non-tannin contents (9.32%). The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was carried out to study the effect of the tannin system on the structural and morphological characteristics of the tanned leathers. Similarly, the organoleptic and strength properties of the tanned leathers were evaluated in comparison with the control ones. Finally, the pollution loads of tanning liquors in Sodom apple tanning significantly reduced as compared with the control (mimosa). Thus, the results in this study showed that the manufacture of leather based on Sodom apple fruit extract found to be a cleaner alterative and promising pathway for tanning goatskins.
Sodom Apple (Solanum Incanum) Plant Material: A Greener Approach for Goat Skin Tanning Process
