Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Processing of leather using deep eutectic solvents

Abbott, A. P., Omaymah, A., Antunes, A. P. M., Douglas, A. C., Guthrie-Strachan, J. and Wise, W. R. (2015) Processing of leather using deep eutectic solvents. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 3(6), pp. 1241-1247. 2168-0485.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: Processing of leather has an historical reputation as a chemically and energetically intensive process that produces large volumes of aqueous waste. Saline pollution combined with heavy-metal, dyes and acid and base streams make leather production an ecologically sensitive industry. The current study shows that a variety of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) may be used for the tanning, fatliquoring and dyeing of animal hides, being particularly useful for mineral (chromium) and vegetable tanning processes. The tanning agents are able to penetrate rapidly into the hide, driven by lyotropic swelling due to their high ionic strength. The samples are shown to have similar tanning agent content to the currently used aqueous chromium(III) sulfate solution; however, the waste metal content is shown to be significantly reduced. Incorporation of the DES Ethaline into the leather significantly alters the swelling properties of the leather increasing the flexibility and ductility of the material, therefore acting in the same manner as a fatliquor that lubricates or plasticizes the fibrous structure of the collagen. Ethaline was also used to transport a lysochromic dye throughout the cross section of the leather, and the hydrophobicity of the dye prevents leaching into the aqueous wash solution. Physical measurements show that leather processed using DESs have similar mechanical properties to that processed using conventional aqueous systems.
Additional Information: A pre-publication version of this article was made available electronically by the publisher on 20 April 2015
Uncontrolled Keywords: Deep eutectic solvent, leather, collagen, tanning, fatliquoring, dyeing
Subjects: T Technology > TS Manufactures > TS967 Chemistry and science of leather
T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering > TD896 Industrial and factory wastes
T Technology > TS Manufactures > TS965 Leather technology > TS965.5 Tanning
Creators: Abbott, Andrew P, Omaymah, Alaysuy, Antunes, A Paula M, Douglas, Andrew C, Guthrie-Strachan, Jeffry and Wise, William R
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Institute for Creative Leather Technologies
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Science and Technology (2010-2016)
Research Institutes > Institute for Creative Leather Technologies
Date: 1 June 2015
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 1241-1247
Journal or Publication Title: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
Volume: 3
Number: 6
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5b00226
ISSN: 2168-0485
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/7500

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