Potential application of quillaja saponaria saponins as an antimicrobial soaking agent in leather industry

The effect of Quillaja saponaria saponin, a plant-derived biosurfactant, as an antimicrobial soaking agent in leather manufacturing was investigated in terms of microbial load, total protein content and chemical oxygen demand of residual floats. The antimicrobial activities of three different commercially available saponins (Saponin A, R and S) were tested by using different concentrations of sapogenin (0.125-1g) in soaking process. The concentration of 0.125g Saponin S and 0.25g Saponin R showed the highest similarity to Biocide 1 and 2 for 8h of soaking process respectively. Comparable results to synthetic biocides were obtained from 1g sapogenin treatments of Saponin A and R applications after 24h of soaking process. The total protein content of soaking liquor was increased at higher sapogenin contents in spite of decreased microbial growth which was a well indication of antimicrobial soaking character of saponins. The results showed that Quillaja saponins have the potential to be cheaper, safer and environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial compounds for leather industry

Plant derived Saponinaescin as an antimicrobial soaking agent

33rd International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists, IULTCS Congress 2015 -- 24 November 2015 through 27 November 2015 -- 119657In the soaking process various unwanted contaminants are removed and skins are rehydrated. It is usually carried out with synthetic surfactants including biocides, salts and enzymes, or chemicals formulated as a mixture of surfactant, biocide and enzyme preparations in the form of aqueous emulsions. In this research, the feasibility of using aescin, a plant-derived saponin from horse chestnut seed, as an alternative natural antimicrobial biosurfactant in soaking process was studied. The effect of aescin was investigated in terms of microbial load, total protein content and chemical oxygen demand of soaking residual floats. Soaking baths were treated using a commercial product of aescin with 98% purity and synthetic biocides. The antimicrobial activity of aescin saponin was tested by using different concentrations of sapogenin (0.125-1g) in soaking process. Comparable results to synthetic biocides were obtained from horse chestnut saponin applications. Increased total protein content of soaking liquor in spite of decreased microbial growth was a good sign of antimicrobial soaking character of aescin saponin. The results obtained from the study reveals that Aescin saponin has the potential to be an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic surfactants and antimicrobial compounds for leather industry

Eco-friendly soaking process using tannic acid as an alternative bactericide

Eco-friendly leather processes based on the usage of natural products have become a potentially attractive issue for leather industry during the last few decades. Synthetic protective chemicals like bactericides used in most soaking process are known as hazardous substances and cause tannery effluents with high concentrations of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). In the present study, the effect of tannic acid on microorganisms, skin, wool and effluent were investigated in order to demonstrate the applicability of tannic acid in soaking process instead of commonly used bactericides. The bacterial load (cfu/ml), COD and Nitrogen Content (N) of the soaking effluents and Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) content of skins and wools were investigated. Application of 0.5 and 1 wt% tannic acid concentrations was more effective than commercial bactericide, while comparable results were achieved by 0.1 and 0.3 wt% tannic acid. The application of tannic acid for soaking process resulted in lower COD and N values of effluents. The results show that tannic acid has the potential to be an alternative, eco-friendly bactericide for leather industry by reducing the pollution of leather soaking process. © Copyright by Polish Academy of Sciences and Institute of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences 2014

Skin characteristics of cervus elaphus L. from Republic of Tuva in Russia

Characteristics of an animal raw skin are closely related to the physical properties of finished leather obtained from the skin. Although numerous studies have been performed on determination of physical properties of tanned deerskin, characteristics of raw deerskin have not yet been described in literature. In the present study, data on morphological, histochemical and chemical characteristics of wild red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) skins obtained from Republic of Tuva within the Russia Federation are presented and the relevant differences between skins of other animal species described. Table Top Scanning Electron Microscopy (TSEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to determine the morphological characteristics of raw deerskins. For histochemical studies the cross section of skins were observed by Research Microscopy (RM). Hydroxyproline content, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), volatile matter, fat content, water-soluble-matter, sulphated total ash and fatty acid contents of raw deerskins were analyzed to further characterize the chemical composition of deerskin. Deerskin has comparatively higher TKN values, lower fat content with higher unsaturated fatty acid ratio, when compared to sheepskin. TSEM and SEM analysis showed that fur fibers and guard hairs of red deer skin were characterized by large cortex and medulla respectively that provides good isolation properties. In addition, high hydroxyproline content, low fat content, and tightly packed collagen fibers revealed by histochemical observations consolidates the long lasting property of deer skin. Assessment of skin characteristics enabled gathering data on physical and chemical properties of red deer skin, which is significant in choosing appropriate potential raw material that will produce the most suitable leather for a specific application

A new vegetable tanning material for leather industry: Acacia nilotica L.

33rd International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists, IULTCS Congress 2015 -- 24 November 2015 through 27 November 2015 -- 119657Tanning is the most important stage giving the required characteristics to raw materials used in leather industry. Chromium salt is still the most preferred tanning material due to the leather properties of the final products. However, ecological awareness, restrictions and legislations have led the tanners and researchers to seek alternatives to chromium tanning system. Numerous alternatives such as vegetable tannins, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, oxazolidine, starch, silica, polymers, syntans etc. have been investigated to overcome the arising ecological problems. Although there was no fully replacement of chromium salt yet, the tendency is still towards to chromium-less production and the production of metal free leathers. In this study, a new vegetable tanning material extracted from the fruit of Acacia nilotica L. was used in the tanning process of the leather industry. The tannin content, the influence on especially the shrinkage temperature, and final physical properties of leathers such as tensile strength, elongation %, tear strength and color measurements have been investigated. Comparable results with commonly used vegetable tannins were obtained from the extract of Acacia nilotica L. The results showed that the extract of Acacia nilotica L. could be the potential new vegetable tanning material also alternative to metal tanning and other tanning systems for leather industry

A new vegetable tanning material for leather industry: Acacia nilotica L.

33rd International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists, IULTCS Congress 2015 -- 24 November 2015 through 27 November 2015 -- -- 119657Tanning is the most important stage giving the required characteristics to raw materials used in leather industry. Chromium salt is still the most preferred tanning material due to the leather properties of the final products. However, ecological awareness, restrictions and legislations have led the tanners and researchers to seek alternatives to chromium tanning system. Numerous alternatives such as vegetable tannins, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, oxazolidine, starch, silica, polymers, syntans etc. have been investigated to overcome the arising ecological problems. Although there was no fully replacement of chromium salt yet, the tendency is still towards to chromium-less production and the production of metal free leathers. In this study, a new vegetable tanning material extracted from the fruit of Acacia nilotica L. was used in the tanning process of the leather industry. The tannin content, the influence on especially the shrinkage temperature, and final physical properties of leathers such as tensile strength, elongation %, tear strength and color measurements have been investigated. Comparable results with commonly used vegetable tannins were obtained from the extract of Acacia nilotica L. The results showed that the extract of Acacia nilotica L. could be the potential new vegetable tanning material also alternative to metal tanning and other tanning systems for leather industry

Ink dyes for washable leathers

6th International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems, ICAMS 2016 -- 20 October 2016 through 22 October 2016 -- -- 139798Inks, contain pigments or dyes in liquid or paste form, are used to color an image, text, or design. Although some patents describing the ink jet printing methods for textile and leather were found, no report was found addressing the application of ink dyes in leather dying process and determination of washing and other fastness properties. In this study, the potential application of ink dyes in leather industry was investigated as an alternative to conventional dyes for the production of washable leathers in dying process. For this purpose, leather-dyeing recipes were developed by using two different ink dyes and applied at dying process of metis type crust leathers in order to produce washable leathers. The quality performance of dyed leathers were investigated in terms of color measurements, to-and-fro rubbing fastness, crockmeter rubbing fastness, and light fastness characteristics before and after washing leathers in a washing machine under specified conditions according to ISO 15702 standard. The color measurements prior and subsequent to washing process were determined with Minolta CM-3600A spectrophotometer. Toand- fro rubbing, crockmeter and light fastness properties were examined in accordance with ISO 11640, ASTM D5053 and ISO 105-B02 standards respectively. The results of the study showed that ink dyes could be used as a newly adapted dye group and applied successfully in leather dyeing process for the production of washable leather goods. © 2016 Certex, INCDTP-ICPI