Decorin content and near infrared spectroscopy analysis of dried collagenous biomaterial samples.

Rosa Sabe,Suzanne Schreyer,Zerlina Muir,Jose Adzet,Mila Aldema-Ramos,Joan Castell

doi:10.3390/biom2040622

Abstract

The efficient removal of proteoglycans, such as decorin, from the hide when processing it to leather by traditional means is generally acceptable and beneficial for leather quality, especially for softness and flexibility. A patented waterless or acetone dehydration method that can generate a product similar to leather called Dried Collagenous Biomaterial (known as BCD) was developed but has no effect on decorin removal efficiency. The Alcian Blue colorimetric technique was used to assay the sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) portion of decorin. The corresponding residual decorin content was correlated to the mechanical properties of the BCD samples and was comparable to the control leather made traditionally. The waterless dehydration and instantaneous chrome tanning process is a good eco-friendly alternative to transforming hides to leather because no additional effects were observed after examination using NIR spectroscopy and additional chemometric analysis.

Highlights

Hides are the most important co-product of the meat industry
AIICA scientists have researched the development of a method that improves the quality and durability of the BCD materials in producing the crust leather with improved mechanical properties which are comparable to traditionally tanned leather [2,3]
The SGAG assay Kit was obtained from Kamiya Biochemicals Inc. [12]

Summary

Introduction

Hides are the most important co-product of the meat industry. They are a $2.2 and €3.4 billion export commodity for the USA and EU, respectively. The current research project deals with the necessity of reducing the burden that traditional tanning of hides to leather impose on the environment by implementing a waterless tanning or dehydration method that can generate a product called Dried Collagenous Biomaterial (known as BCD). AIICA scientists have researched the development of a method that improves the quality and durability of the BCD materials in producing the crust leather with improved mechanical properties which are comparable to traditionally tanned leather [2,3]. BCD is not “tanned”, it can be further stabilized by the “instantaneous tanning process” with chrome salts or vegetable extracts. The properties of BCD allow for very fast tanning reactions by immersion of the BCD pelts, wet blue or vegetable leather can be obtained from BCD [2,3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion