Green Biopolymers for Ecofriendly Leather

Abstract

Green and eco-friendly reagents for the leather industry based on Biopolymers (Biopol) have been developed through Life Biopol European project. The new biopolymers represent an innovative, non-hazardous and environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional products based on petrochemicals. Biopol are a virtuous example of circular economy since they are obtained from industrial by-products such as animal and vegetable biomasses otherwise disposed in landfill. Several protocols are under investigation in order to produce chemicals to replace the traditional ones. NMR, FT-IR characterization of the Biopol will be carried out in order to rationalize the synthetic strategy and practical application of the products giving important parameters such as molecular weight and chemical composition of the new biopolymers. Preliminary performances of new synthesized biopolymers have been inspected and compared with traditional chemicals through the leather making process.