Oral
Abstract
Research summary supplied by the authors
The world of industry is increasingly sensitive to production processes with low environmental impact and the tanning industry in particular is following this path, improving every type of processing from wet-end to finishing by choosing ecological products and following the philosophy of saving water, chemicals and energy. Corichem based this work on the need to have an odorless liming process, especially du ring the hair removal phase, with less or preferably without use of thiols, thioglycolate s and all sodium sulphide added. Using the experience and a detailed bibliographic research on starches and sugars, studying their reducing power, the research department has formulated a mixture of organic and inorganic substances that enhance the reducing activity of sugars. The first big problem encountered was the different nature of the hair belonging to various types of skins, for example pig hair is very difficult to remove without sodium sulfi de. For this reason, a balanced formulation has been developed that works for every hair type in presence of only a small amount of Sodium hydrogen sul phide. This quantity varies between 0,5% -0,7% for calf hair or cow hair and of 1% for bristles. The main characteristics of this formulation are the sources found for the organic substances (from food waste or from renewable plant), the power to dissolve the hair, clean the bulbs and remove dirt and keratin on the surface of the skin without sulphur smell. The process respects the timing and methodology of traditional liming allowing both the recovery of the hair and its complete destruction and does not require the aid of other substances, such as enzymes. The data collected during our tests w ill be illustrated and explained during the presentation in which we’ll show the content of sulphates in the baths, the value of COD, microscopy studies of the hair degradation and the physical characteristics of the tanned leather. The products developed in this work are patent pending.