Optimization and Process Efficiency of Vacuum-Assisted Leather Tanning
Bildiriler > Özet Bildiri · 2025
Yazarlar: Kuntay Birinc Berslan, Bahri BAŞARAN, Abdurrahman Akay, Al Mizan
8th International Congress on Innovative Aspects For Leather Industry, Türkiye, İzmir, Uluslararası, Sözlü Sunum, Özet Bildiri, 2025-2025, ss 18-19
Özet
<p>Leather tanning is a conventional process that transforms raw skins into durable products with desirable</p><p>thermal, structural, and mechanical properties. The fundamental objective of tanning is to stabilize</p><p>putrescible collagen against denaturation through the use of chemical agents. Globally, basic chromium</p><p>sulfate (BCS) remains the predominant tanning agent, accounting for over 90% of industrial applications</p><p>due to its capacity to impart superior physical and thermal performance. However, BCS produces a huge</p><p>amount of chrome-containing liquid and solid wastes that force the tanners to find out technologies that</p><p>can bind almost all the chromium (Cr) in the skin, leading to high exhaustion of Cr in the wastewater.</p><p>As an attempt to absorb more Cr inside the skin and better crosslinking of Cr-collagen, a vacuum tanning</p><p>method was developed in this study. The vacuum environment was designed to optimize processing by</p><p>reducing tanning time, limiting mechanical action, and lowering the consumption of tanning agents.</p><p>Controlled negative pressure between -0.4 atm and -0.8 atm was applied and compared with</p><p>conventional atmospheric (0 atm) tanning. BCS dosages ranging from 3% to 7% were evaluated to</p><p>identify optimal performance under reduced pressure. The findings indicated that tanning under vacuum</p><p>at lower BCS concentrations produced high-quality leather with excellent organoleptic properties.</p><p>Notably, 5% BCS at -0.8 atm resulted in the most favorable outcome, achieving a chromium uptake of</p><p>73%, where the conventional shows 50%, and an elevated shrinkage temperature. No reduction in skin</p><p>substance was observed, confirming effective stabilization. Moreover, the mechanical strength values</p><p>surpassed UNIDO standards, and the finished leather exhibited desirable softness, fullness, and grain</p><p>quality. Overall, the proposed vacuum-assisted chrome tanning process significantly shortened tanning duration, enhanced chromium fixation, and improved leather quality. These results demonstrate a</p><p>promising approach for developing environmentally sustainable tanning technologies.</p>