Production of Agglomerates, Composite Materials, and Seed Coatings from Tannery Waste as New Methods for Its Management

This paper presents methods for managing waste produced by the leather industry, including tanning shavings derived from chrome tanning technologies and collagen preparations. Shavings were classified according to their shape (in accordance with Zingg′s shape classification). The content of individual elements was determined, together with the content of volatile organic compounds. Two new products were developed as part of the completed works: agglomerates (methods of non-pressure granulation) and composite materials were produced on the basis of tanning shavings and mineral fillers. Young′s modulus values classify these composite materials in the group of polymers and certain materials from the group of elastomers. A method for seed coating (on the example of legumes and rape) was also developed using a disc granulator, including collagen preparations in one of the layers as a solution for preventing the effects of droughts (biostimulant). The analyses of selected properties of the new products confirm the wide possible application of waste shavings and collagen preparations in a circular economy, especially in the construction, packaging, and agricultural sectors.

Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Carbonate Solvent – Part:1

Antimicrobial agents have been used in leather manufacturing to prevent leather products from microbial contamination. In this work, the antifungal activity of green solvent such as propylene carbonate was investigated against the mixed culture of fungi isolated from wet-blue using broth dilution/well diffusion. A concentration of 5% and above (propylene carbonate) showed effective antifungal activity against the mixed culture of fungi and the efficiency of propylene carbonate on the mixed culture increased with increasing concentration/volume. Propylene carbonate exhibited fungistatic activity against the mixed culture of fungi but it lost its activity after a certain period and fungal growth was observed again. It was also found that 2% propylene carbonate in chrome tanning process effectively inhibited the fungal growth and the wet-blue can be preserved up to 30 days without any fungal attack.

Role of Anionic Chromium Species in Leather Tanning

Chrome tanned leathers are definitely unique in comparison with leather made from any other known tanning agents, especially in terms of thermal stability, cost and its reactive mechanism with collagen fibers. In our current studies, self basifying chrome tanning materials masked with different percentages of organic acid were prepared and applied after the de-liming stage of leather processing. This eliminated the need for pickling and basification steps. Tanned leathers resisted shrinkage up to 103 and 105±2°C while conventional chrome tanned leathers resisted up to 108±2°C. Also, interaction of anionic chrome species in tanning was studied. It was observed that the percentage of anionic species in the experimental chrome tanning material was higher than conventional chrome tanning material and the shrinkage temperature achieved by application of experimental tanning material proves that anionic species do involve in tanning. Tanned leathers were crusted and analysed for strength and organoleptic properties.

Eco-friendly Chrome Tanning of Leather using Ultrasound Technique

This article describes the development of an environment friendly chrome tanning of leather using ultrasound. Most of the leathers are tanned by the conventional method using basic chromium sulphate. It is one of the most polluting and time-consuming steps in leather processing. In this study, investigations were carried out on ultrasound assisted eco-friendly tanning process so that the chrome tanning agent could provide better quality leather without creating any environmental problem. Effects of using ultrasound in chrome tanning process were studied at different pH, tanning time, tanning agent dosage, and then compared with that of conventional method. Tanned leathers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photomicrographic analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), etc. SEM analyses of the surface and cross-section of the tanned leather showed that fibre structures were not affected by ultrasound. It was also found that the shrinkage temperature of leather tanned with ultrasound was increased by about 5–29°C. Chrome uptake and content were found to increase by 30–50% and 1–7%, respectively. Tanning time was shortened from 6 hours to 2 hours and the quantity of leachable chromium in the leather was also decreased significantly. The noteworthy enhancing effects have been attributed largely because of the increased penetration of tanning agents into pickled leather. Photomicrographic analysis of the cross-section of the tanned leather also showed a higher penetration of tanning agents in presence of ultrasound.

Prospects and Challenges of Chrome Tanning: Approach a Greener Technology in Leather Industry

The leather industry is one of the heavy-polluting and hazardous industries that is creating toxic and harmful effects on the environment and human health by producing waste chemicals, tannery effluents, and various pollutants. Moreover, Tanning is the required stage to convert raw skin to durable and sustainable skin but most of the chemicals, salts, organic and inorganic toxic pollutants are produced. In commercial practices, Chrome tanning is the highly employed approach that uses a large number of basic chromium salts that becomes the major source of chromium pollutant in the environment. Chromium salt is not only harmful to the environment and ecology but also harms the human body such as causing respiratory problems, infertility and birth defects, skin and lung cancer of the workers. This article has presented two alternatives eco-friendly greener approaches of chrome tanning and waste management technique to reduce the toxic effect on the environment and human health. Firstly, to get rid of these harmful effects, the possible remedy of environmental and human health problems may be considered the vegetable tanning process. Vegetable tanning uses tannins (a class of polyphenol astringent chemicals), which occur naturally in the bark and leaves of many plants. Secondly, chrome tanning associate with ultrasound having a frequency range of 20–100 kHz is commonly employed for enhancing the physical processes and for performing chemical reactions. The basic principle associated with the process is an ultrasonic cavitation in dissolved media. Ultrasound decreases the consumption of conventional water and chemicals because it can also function as a physical activator resulting reduction in environmental pollution which is a prime concern nowadays to approach greener leather technology and eco-friendly leather processing. Furthermore, the possible waste management technique of chrome tanning helps to prevent pollution and ensure eco-friendly green technology of leather processing. Therefore, vegetable tanning and chrome tanning associated with ultrasound having proper waste management will be the viable and sustainable options for the tanners in the forthcoming future.

Enzymatic activity of alkaline protease from Bacillus cereus TD5B and its application as sheep skin dehairing agent

This study aims to determine the enzymatic activity of extracellular alkaline protease from Bacillus cereus TD5B and its potential application as a sheep skin dehairing agent. The B. cereus TD5B was screened for extracellular alkaline protease production on skim milk agar media, while its alkaline protease activity and the application were measured at 1%, 1.5%, and 2%. The application of alkaline protease from B. cereus TD5B as a sheep skin dehairing agent was observed through histological examination and physical properties measurement after chrome-tanning with lime and Na2S as control. The study was conducted in a completely randomized design, and the quantitative data were analyzed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results showed that a clear zone was seen surrounding B. cereus, indicating the bacteria’s proteolytic activity. The protease activity measurement showed that 2% of alkaline protease had the highest enzymatic activity at 144.75 U/mL/min. The highest tensile strength of sheep leather was obtained after dehairing at 1% alkaline protease concentration (350.26 kg/cm2), even though the highest elongation was obtained at 2% (34.92%). In contrast, different concentrations showed similar shrinkage temperatures at 90°C. This study concludes that the optimum alkaline protease concentration from Bacillus cereus TD5B as a sheep dehairing agent was 2%.

Modeling of strain and filtration properties of a semi-finished leather product

A study on deformation and filtration properties of a leather semi-finished product after chrome tanning are presented. The analytical dependences of compressive load on compressive (recovery) strain and moisture content of a leather semi-finished product are obtained. The empirical dependences of hydraulic gradient on filtration rates are determined for various compression ratios of the leather semi-finished product. It was revealed that with an increase in compressive load and moisture content of the leather semi-finished product, the compressive deformation increases. The shoulder section is subject to the greatest deformation, then the belly section and the least deformation is observed in the butt section. A linear relationship has been established between the hydraulic gradient and the rate of moisture filtration through the leather semi-finished product in the directions perpendicular and parallel to its surface. Graphical abstract

SYNTHESIS OF CHROME TANNING AGENT IN PRESENCE OF OLIGO - AND POLYSACCHARIDES

The conditions for the synthesis of chrome tanning agent during the reduction of sodium dichromate with oligo - and polysaccharides have been investigated. The synthesis of the tanning agent is based on the reduction of hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) in the form of sodium dichromate with reducing agents from the class of vegetable oligo- and polysaccharides with a different sequence of their introduction into the reaction mixture in the presence of sulfuric acid. The introduction of sulfuric acid was carried out gradually to avoid overheating and splashing of the reaction mixture, since the reduction reaction is accompanied by a significant thermal effect. Glucose, maltodextrin and pectin were used as reducing agents. The properties of the obtained products were evaluated by spectrophotometry, conductometry, and analytical methods. It has been shown that the use of native pectin leads to the formation of a gel like mass due to the coordination of the functional groups of galacturonic acid, which is part of the pectin, with chromium atoms. Pretreatment of pectin with a citric acid solution and optimization of synthesis conditions made it possible to obtain a chromium tanning agent that does not contain unreduced chromium. The influence of oligosaccharides on the properties of chromium tanning agents, including their ability to dissolve, is considered. It is shown that the reduction of sodium dichromate with maltodextrin during the reaction results in the formation of incomplete oxidation products of the oligosaccharide, which cause the masking effect of the chromium complex and increase in the resistance of the tanning agent to the action of alkaline reagents used to increase in the basicity during tanning. Experimental samples of chrome tanning agent in dry form were obtained and their leatherprocessing characteristics were studied. The results of technological tests have confirmed the theoretical propositions, according to which the high hydrothermal stability of the leather semifinished product, the almost complete depletion of the processing solution and the required physical and mechanical properties of the finished leather are achieved by introducing the products of incomplete oxidation of oligosaccharides into the inner sphere of the chromium complex.