Eco-benign stabilization of skin protein—Role of Jatropha curcas oil as a co-tanning agent

Abstract

The research relates to use of Jatropha curcas seed oil as co-stabilizing agent for skins and hides in tanning process. Conventionally most of the skins and hides are stabilized through mineral tanning agents predominantly using chromium salts. However due to the ecological and safety concerns associated with chromium salts and other mineral tanning systems there arose a need for an alternative tanning system. Disposal of used leather products has also come under surveillance for their eco-compatibility posing challenges to choice and designing of novel tanning systems. Emerging criteria for such new tanning systems are environmental safety and easy biodegradability of leather products after use. Vegetable tanning agents based on poly phenols of plant materials which were in vogue prior to advent of mineral tanning are re-emerging as principal tanning materials to offset the perceived concerns of mineral tanning. This calls for overcoming the inherent shortcomings associated with the traditional vegetable tanning agents and processes. The major limitations of the vegetable tanned leathers are poor physical characteristics and their high susceptibility to fungal growth. In order to overcome short comings of vegetable tanning, use of multifunctional material(s) of plant origin has been attempted. J. curcas seed oil provides a possibility for its use in tanning as an adjunct along with poly phenols. This oil when used as a co-tanning agent along with vegetable tannins eliminates most of the drawbacks associated with conventional tanning. Detailed study has been made by varying the process parameters of tanning. The improvement in softness characteristics has been quantified using a softness tester. Fresh mature cultures of fungal species, Asp. Niger, Asp. flavus and Trichoderma viridae have been used as sources of inoculum for assessment of improvements in fungal resistance. The study indicates a novel tanning process using J. curcus seed oil along with vegetable tanning agents can emerge as a viable tanning system based on replenishable resources.