Characteristics of leather produced by using Acacia nilotica ssp tomentosa pods as tanning materials from Blue Nile State-Sudan

Abstract

Chrome salt utilization in tanning industry become spread over the world owing to its preferred quality in leather industry. However, Environmental concerns of chromium have shifted the interest of current research to metal-free and friendly processing options. Vegetable tanning, have been proven to be environmentally safe and manageable, while producing good quality leather with similar characteristics as that of chromium tanned leather. So, the objective of this research work is to determine the properties of leather using vegetable tanning materials from the pods of Acacia nilotica ssp tomentosa in the form of powdered pods and extract. Results indicated a significant difference in the properties of the tanned skin. Chemical properties of the tanned leathers by extracts of Acacia nilotica ssp tomentosa pods are found to be quite normal. Tensile strength values of tanned skin with pods extracts are higher than that tanned with powdered pods. On the other hand, tanned skin with tannin extract produced greater skin elongation 44.39% compared to tanned with pods powder which was 34.94%. This work provides useful information on the potential leather production by using vegetable tannin materials for leather industries in Sudan and beyond.