Greener Approach for Leather Tanning Using Less Chrome with Plant Tannins and Tannins Mediated Nanoparticles

Abstract

Making out animal skins or hides to leather is commonly called as tanning. This research was done for utilizing tannins of some medicinal plants and tannin induced green-synthesized silver nanoparticles along with minimal concentration of chromium to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of leather and thereby reducing the pollution caused by chromium in effluent which crucially affect the soil fertility, ground and surface water. In this study, Cassia alata, Euphorbia hirta, Thespesia populnea and Wrightia tinctoria were collected and tannins were extracted from the leaves. Tannins were utilized for production of silver nanoparticles. The extracted tannins and tannin induced silver nanoparticles were characterized, where the silver nanoparticles were found to be crystalline. Further, the tannin and tannin induced silver nanoparticles were used in leather processing either alone or in combination with chromium. The quality of tannin/silver nanoparticle treated leather was compared with chemically tanned leather for its tensile strength, tear strength, shrinking temperature, etc.