Preparation and application of tremella polysaccharide based chrome free tanning agent for sheepskin processing

Abstract

The abuse of chrome tanning agent in leather processing has caused great harm to human health and the natural environment. We use tremella polysaccharides (TP), lentinan (LNT) and konjac gum (KG) as raw materials, and sodium periodate as oxidant to prepare the corresponding polysaccharide tanning agent. Tremella polysaccharide was selected as the best tanning agent according to the shrinkage temperature, and the subsequent experiments were carried out. Tremella polysaccharide (TP) as raw material and sodium periodate as an oxidant, dialdehyde tremella polysaccharide (DTP) was prepared and applied in leather tanning. The effects of different oxidation conditions (sodium periodate dosage, temperature, pH, and reaction time) on the shrinkage temperature of DTP tanned leather were studied. The change of shrinkage temperature showed that the dosage of sodium periodate had the greatest influence on the shrinkage temperature. Therefore, the effects of different dosage of sodium periodate on the aldehyde content and molecular weight of DTP were investigated, including the analysis of physical properties and microstructure of tanned leather. In general, the increase of sodium periodate dosage was found to increase the aldehyde content and reduce the molecular weight, which was more conducive to leather tanning.