Development of bio-acceptable leather using bagasse

Abstract

Leather is extensively used in the production of various lifestyle accessories such as shoes, bags, garments, upholstery, and various other products. The leather waste generated from the manufacturing units of leather and after the intended usage of the leather products leads to the accumulation of solid leather wastes. The studies on making the leather amenable for easy disposal is a priority research. A unique process prepared for the development of the tanning system and leather, which would be manageable for easy disposal (degradation under certain environmental conditions) after the intended usage of the product is an important need. In this present work, Gramineae Saccharum officinarum L. (Sugarcane Bagasse), a byproduct of the sugarcane industry is used as a tanning agent after converting the cellulose and hemicellulose content into dialdehyde polysaccharides from hydrolyzed bagasse (DAPB) by oxidation process. Leather from goatskins after conventional pre-tanning process (Soaking to Deliming), tanned by developed dialdehyde polysaccharides. The developed leather provided resistance to collagenase degradation, which reflects the tanning efficiency of dialdehyde polysaccharides. Additionally, tanned leather also provided reasonable mechanical strength. The leathers made from dialdehyde polysaccharides were observed to have properties comparable to conventional chrome tanned leathers. From hydrolyzed bagasse solution fungal strains are isolated and tested for the degradation of the crust dialdehyde polysaccharides tanned leather, where delimed pelt (untanned), chrome tanned, and vegetable tanned crust leathers were set as control. In comparison to delimed (untanned) pelt, the newly developed tanning system showed significant resistance to degradation. However, compared to chrome and vegetable tanned leathers, the dialdehyde polysaccharides tanned leather showed better biodegradation. The developed bagasse tanning system paves the way for a cradle to cradle approach in creating a circular economy and sustainable development in leather manufacture.