Studies on the Tanning with Glutaraldehyde as an Alternative to Traditional Chrome Tanning System for the Production of Chrome Free Leather

Abstract

Chrome tanning is a versatile tanning system, but the pollution problems of chromium due to inadequacy of treatment systems and possible formation of Cr(VI), a carcinogen, have led to search for an ecofriendly and viable alternative tanning system. The present investigation focuses on the development of a novel, high performance and thermally stable aldehyde tannage system to produce chrome free leather by cross linking the NH 2 groups of collagen with glutaraldehyde (CHO-CH 2 -CH 2 -CH 2 -CHO). After as usual soaking, liming, deliming, bating and pickling operations the pickle pelts were tanned with glutaraldehyde and other syntans. This developed chrome free tanning process produce crust leathers exhibiting thermal stability >85 O C and reducing the TDS value with 0% emission of Cr-salt in tannery discharge.

The Use of Glutaraldehyde Tanning Materials for Goat Skin Tanning

“…The rising of wrinkle temperatures significantly with the number of aldehyde bound, while aldehyde bound depending of pH tanning process (Purnomo, 2016). This study is consistent with the study results from Chakraborty et al (2008), the goat skin which tanned with glutaraldehyde tanning materials shows wrinkle temperature at 88°C.…”

“…06-07776-1989, this result meets with the standards of SNI upholstery physical quality (minimum 125 N/cm²). This study shows that leather tanned with glutaraldehyde tanning materials has tensile strength higher than leather tanned with chrome tanning materials (Chakraborty et al, 2008).…”

“…Chromium is one of the tanner substances that is widely used in leather processing, because it has several advantages including finished leather (leather) is more subtle, more resistant to heat, and more resistant to tearing (Takigawa and Yoko, 2006). The physical quality of goat skin upholstery tanned with chrome tanning materials have been investigated by Chakraborty et al (2008) which is shown in Table 3.…”

“…Glutaraldehyde, still commonly used as pretanning agent of shrunken leather and re-tanning agent of glove leather (Rachmawati and Udkhiyati, 2017). Glutaraldehyde is the type of aldehyde that resulting from crosslinking between glutaraldehyde (CHO-CH₂-CH₂-CH₂-CHO) with NH₂ groups of the skin collagen (Chakraborty et al, 2008).…”

“…Chrome tanning substance is a substance with III valence tanner that is slightly toxic, so its use is still allowed, but the liquid effluent or solids must be handled in accordance with the laws and regulations (Purnomo, 2015). Chakraborty et al (2008) also explains that tanning using chrome tanning agent is still the most widely used, but the waste of chromium to date have not dealt with the right systems to allow for the change of chrome (III) to chrome (VI).…”