Course : ACCE-1211
1st Year : Even Semester
Group-B : Chapter-1
Leather
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Course Outline
1. Leather, hides and skins and it’s classification
2. Structure of animal skins
3. Pretannage process, tanning process- vegetable and chrome tanning
4. Finishing of leather and commercial aspects of leather
5. Pollution problems from leather industry
6. Leather industry in Bangladesh
Sunday, October 11, 2015
History of Leather
Primitive people who lived during the Ice Age some 500,000 years ago, were likely the first to use
the skins of animals to protect their bodies from the elements. Just as leather today is a
byproduct, our ancient ancestors hunted animals primarily for food, but once they had eaten the
meat, they would clean the skin by scraping off the flesh and then sling it over their shoulders as a
crude form of a coat. They also made footwear to protect their bare feet from rocks and thorns by
taking smaller pieces of animal skin
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Animal SkinThe skin is the largest organ of the body. It provides a protective barrier
against the environment, regulates temperature, and gives sense of touch.
Depending on the species and age, the skin may be 12 to 24% of an animal's
body weight.
The skin has 3 major layers:
1. The epidermis or outermost layer,
2. The dermis or middle layer, and
3. The subcutis or innermost layer.
Other important components include skin appendages (such as hair and
hooves), and subcutaneous muscles and fat.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: E-books
Structure of Animal Skin
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: E-books
Structure of Animal Skin
1. The epidermis is composed of the outermost layers of the skin. It forms a protective barrier over the
body's surface, responsible for keeping water in the body and preventing pathogens from entering.
The epidermis also helps the skin regulate body temperature.
2. The dermis is the layer of skin below the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and pillows the body
from stress and strain. The dermis provides tensile strength and elasticity to the skin through
an extracellular matrix composed of collagen fibrils, microfibrils, and elastic fibers.
3. The hypodermis is not part of the skin, and lies below the dermis. Its purpose is to attach the skin to
underlying bone and muscle as well as supplying it with blood vessels and nerves. It consists of
loose connective tissue and elastin.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: E-books
Structure of Animal Skin
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: E-books
Hide, Skin & Kip
Skin: Small animal such as, goat, sheep, calf or baby cow etc. the skin of these
types of animal are directly called skin.
Kip: The skin of medium size of animal is called kip. Example- wild fox, dog,
Dear animal etc.
Hide: The skin of big or large size of animal such as, steer of cow, bull, horse,
buffalo etc. These types of animal skin are directly called hide.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: Industrial Chemistry-By B.K. Sharma
According to leather size, they are classified into three categories:
Composition of Skin & HideSL NO. Item Composition Type
1 Water 60 to 70%Free Water and
Bound Water
2 Protein 19.2 to 32.75%
Fibrous Protein (Karotine, Collagen, Elastin and
Raticuline)
Non-fibrous Protein (Albumine, Globutin and
Mucin)
3 Fats and Oils 1.5 to 12.25%Non-Glyceride and
Saturated Glyceride of Fatty Acid
4 Mineral 0.36 to 0.5%Chloride, Sulphate, Carbonate salt of
Na, K, Ca, and Mg
5Dye, Charbohydrate,
Enzyme etc.Trace Amount -
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created by the tanning of
animal rawhide and skin, often cattle hide. It can be produced through
manufacturing processes ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.
Leather is used for various purposes including clothing (e.g. shoes, hats, jackets,
skirts, trousers and belts), bookbinding leather wallpaper, and as a furniture
covering. It is produced in a wide variety of types and styles and is decorated by
a wide range of techniques.
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Leather Processing
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Tanning Process
Pre - Tanning Tanning Post Tanning1. Vegetable Tanning
2. Chrome Tanning
3. Oil Tanning
4. Wet-white Tanning
1. Skinning
2. Curing
3. Soaking
4. Liming
5. Unhairing and scudding
6. De-liming and bating
7. Pickling
1. Removal of excess water
and tanning liquor
2. Shaving and splitting
3. Neutralizing and coloring
4. Setting out
5. Drying
6. Finishing operations
Pre-Tanning Process
1. Skinning
2. Curing
3. Soaking
4. Liming
5. Unhairing and scudding
6. De-liming and bating
7. Pickling
Sunday, October 11, 2015
1. Skinning
The actual leather process begins with
the obtaining of an animal skin. When an
animal skin is to be tanned, the beast is
killed and skinned before the body heat
leaves the tissues. This can be done by
the tanner, or by obtaining a skin at a
slaughterhouse or farm.
Pre-Tanning Process
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: E-books
2. Curing is done by solid salt or salt solution (Brine). In wet-salting, the
hides are heavily salted, then pressed into packs for about 30 days (Salt is
spread between each layer about 1kg/kg of hide). In brine-curing the hides are
agitated in a salt water bath for about 16 hours.
Curing is employed to prevent putrefaction of the protein substance (collagen)
from bacterial growth during the time lag that might occur from procuring the
hide to when it is processed.
Curing removes excess water from the hides and skins using a difference in
osmotic pressure. The moisture content of hides and skins gets greatly
reduced. Generally speaking, curing substantially reduces the chance of
spoilage by bacteria. Curing can also be done by preserving the hides and
skins at a very low temperature.
Pre-Tanning Process
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Pre-Tanning Process
Curing
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Source: E-books
3. Soaking
The hides are soaked in clean water to remove the salt left over from curing and
increase the moisture so that the hide or skin can be further treated.
Pre-Tanning Process
Sunday, October 11, 2015Source: E-books
4. LimingAfter soaking, the hides and skins are taken for liming: treatment with milk of
lime (a basic agent) that may involve the addition of "sharpening agents" (disulfide
reducing agents) like sodium sulfide, cyanides, amines etc. The objectives of this
operation are mainly to:
• Remove the hairs, nails and other keratinous matter
• Remove some of the interfibrillary soluble proteins like mucins
• Swell up and split up the fibres to the desired extent
• Remove the natural grease and fats to some extent
• Bring the collagen in the hide to a proper condition for satisfactory tannage
Pre-Tanning Process
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5. Unhairing and scudding
Unhairing agents used at this time are: Sodium sulfide, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydrosulfite,
calcium hydrosulfide, dimethyl amine, and Sodium sulfhydrate. The majority of hair is then removed
mechanically, initially with a machine and then by hand using a dull knife, a process known
as scudding.
Pre-Tanning Process
6. De-liming and bating
The pH of the collagen is brought down to a lower level so that enzymes may act on it, in a
process is known as de-liming. Depending on the end use of the leather, hides may be treated
with enzymes to soften them, a process called bating.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Pre-Tanning Process7. Pickling
Once bating is complete, the hides and skins are treated with a mixture of common
(table) salt and sulfuric acid, in case a mineral tanning is to be done. This is done to bring
down the pH of collagen to a very low level so as to facilitate the penetration of mineral
tanning agent into the substance. This process is known as pickling. The common salt (sodium
chloride) penetrates the hide twice as fast as the acid and checks the ill effect of sudden drop
of pH.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Tanning is the process that converts the protein of the raw hide or skin into a
stable material which will not putrefy and is suitable for a wide variety of end
applications.
The principal difference between raw hides and tanned hides is that raw hides
dry out to form a hard inflexible material that can putrefy when re-wetted
(wetted back), while tanned material dries out to a flexible form that does not
become putrid when wetted back.
Tanning Process
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Tanning ProcessTanning refers to the procedure of chemically treating raw hides to make it
stronger, more flexible and resistant to decay.
The tanning process consists in strengthening the protein structure of the
putrescible skin by creating a bond between tannins and peptide chains. The skin
is made up of three layers being the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layers.
The dermis consists between 30-35% protein, mostly collagen, and the remaining
are fat and water. It is the dermis that is used to make the leather after the other
layers have been removed chemically or mechanically. During the tanning
process, acids, alkalis, salts, enzymes and tanning agents are used to dissolve the
fats and non-fibrous proteins, as well as chemically bond the collagen fibers with
the tanning agents.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Tanning ProcessTannic acid is a specific commercial form of tannin, a type of polyphenol. Its
weak acidity is due to the numerous phenol groups in the structure. The chemical
formula for commercial tannic acid is often given as C76H52O46 . Commercial tannic acid is
usually extracted from any of the following plant part: Tara pods (Caesalpinia spinosa),
gallnuts from Rhus semialata or Quercus infectoria or Sicilian Sumac leaves (Rhus
coriaria).
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: E-books
Tanning Process
1. Vegetable Tanning
2. Chrome Tanning
3. Oil Tanning
4. Wet-white Tanning
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: Industrial Chemistry-By B.K. Sharma
The oldest system of tanning relies on the chemical action of vegetable material containing tannin,
or tannic acid, on the protein constituents of skin. Vegetable tanning seems to have been practiced
in prehistoric times. In historic times, the Hebrews tanned with oak bark, and the Egyptians, with
babul pods. The Romans used bark, certain woods, and berries. The Arabs tanned with bark and
roots, and in the Middle Ages they reintroduced the art into Europe via Spain. By the 18th century
the value of materials such as oak bark, sumac, valonia, and hemlock was well established. The
procedure, essentially unchanged in modern times, involves soaking hides in vats of increasingly
strong liquors, or liquid extracts of vegetable tannin.
Vegetable tanning
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Vegetable tanning
Vegetable tanning uses tannin. The tannins (a class of polyphenol caustic chemical) occur
naturally in the bark and leaves of many plants. Tannins bind to the collagen proteins in the hide
and coat them causing them to become less water-soluble, and more resistant to bacterial attack.
The process also causes the hide to become more flexible. The primary barks, processed in bark
mills and used in modern times are:
chestnut, oak, redoul, tanoak, hemlock, quebracho, mangrove, wattle (acacia; see catechu),
and myrobalan Hides are stretched on frames and immersed for several weeks in vats of
increasing concentrations of tannin. Vegetable tanned hide is flexible and is used for luggage and
furniture.
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Vegetable tanning
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Vegetable tanningAdvantages of Vegetable tanning:
Colors and textures have a more natural and organic look;
It is irregular and handcrafted which can be leveraged for an unique and genuine aesthetic;
Great durability and strength, being even more effective than the majority of the synthetic
materials;
Neutral effect on the user's health;
Can last an entire lifetime (or more) and/or it is bio-degradable when it ceases to be
used/maintained;
Remarkable and sought-after aging qualities, acquired with the use;
Reusability;
Enhances the animal use as it is obtained from cattle with a good life, and always as a sub-product
of the quality meat industry;
Values slower life and an eco-sustainable industry;
Regenerates the local society and general culture.
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Vegetable tanningThere are some disadvantages in using vegetable-tanned leather including:
1. The process of vegetable tanning takes a long time, and can take up to 60 days.
2. Vegetable tanning doesn’t react well with water and can stain easily.
3. Products that have been vegetable tanned are more expensive.
4. The colors you can produce from vegetable tanning are limited.
5. Direct heat can cause vegetable tanned products to shrink or crack.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Chrome tanningToday, 80-90% of leathers in the world are tanned by chrome tanning. Chrome tanning uses a
solution of chemicals, acids and salts (including chromium sulphate) to tan the hide. It’s a very
quick process, taking about a day to produce a piece of tanned leather.
Two methods are used. In the double-bath method the hides are first bathed in a mild
chromic acid solution. In the second bath, sodium thiosulfate and another acid react with the
chromic acid to produce basic chromium salts, which are deposited on the fibers of the skins.
In the more common single-bath method first hide are limed to remove hair and then are
“pickled” by being left in the acid salt mixture, before being placed in the chromium sulphate.
Then hides are soaked in revolving drums filled with increasingly strong chromium sulfate
solutions. Aluminum and zirconium salts are also used in tanning. All hides then come out
looking light blue (known as “wet blue”).
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Source: Industrial Chemistry-By B.K. Sharma
Chrome tanning
Main advantages of chrome tanning
• Quick and easy to produce, usually only taking up to a day
• Water can roll off the surface easily with appropriate retanning and finishing processes
• Soft and supple to the touch
• It is possible to obtain leather with a stable colour
• It is cheaper to buy than vegetable tanned leather, which means it is also easier to find
• It has a high degree of thermal resistance
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Chrome tanningDisadvantages of chrome tanning
• Chrome tanning is very bad for the environment
• It’s produced with little craftsmanship and very often mass produced
• It doesn’t wear well with time
• Chrome tanning often smells of chemicals
• It doesn’t appear (neither is it) very natural
• Lacks of charm and hotness
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Chemistry of Chrome TanningChromium(III) sulfate ([Cr(H2O)6]2(SO4)3) has long been regarded as the most efficient and effective tanning agent.
Chromium(III) compounds of the sort used in tanning are significantly less toxic than hexavalent chromium.
Chromium(III) sulfate dissolves to give the hexaaquachromium(III) cation, [Cr(H2O)6]3+, which at higher pH
undergoes processes called olation to give polychromium(III) compounds that are active in tanning, being the
cross-linking of the collagen subunits. The chemistry of [Cr(H2O)6]3+ is more complex in the tanning bath rather
than in water due to the presence of a variety of ligands. Some ligands include the sulfate anion, the collagen's
carboxyl groups, amine groups from the side chains of the amino acids, as well as "masking agents." Masking
agents are carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid, used to suppress formation of polychromium(III) chains. Masking
agents allow the tanner to further increase the pH to increase collagen's reactivity without inhibiting the
penetration of the chromium(III) complexes.
Collagen is characterized by a high content of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, usually in the repeat -gly-pro-
hypro-gly-. These residues give rise to collagen's helical structure. Collagen's high content of hydroxyproline allows
for significant cross-linking by hydrogen bonding within the helical structure. Ionized carboxyl groups (RCO2-) are
formed by hydrolysis of the collagen by the action of hydroxide. This conversion occurs during the liming process,
before introduction of the tanning agent (chromium salts). The ionized carboxyl groups coordinate as ligands to the
chromium(III) centers of the oxo-hydroxide clusters.
Tanning increases the spacing between protein chains in collagen from 10 to 17 Å. The difference is consistent with
cross-linking by polychromium species, of the sort arising from olation and oxolation.
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Chemistry of Chrome Tanning
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Vegetable VS Chrome Tanning
SL NO. Vegetable Tanning Chrome Tanning
1 It is processed by Vegetable Extract It is processed by Chromium Compound
2 Low grade leather- used for sole, belt High grade leather-used for bag, cloth
3Pickling operation is not necessary
in the pre-tannage processPickling operation is necessary
4 Water can be penetrated It is water resistant
5It is needed 15-20 days to
complete the tanning processOnly 24-48 hrs. need for processing
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Oil Tanning
Oil-tanned leather is not actually tanned with oil – it is usually a chrome-tanned
leather that has been treated with oil to make it more weather resistant.
Oil tanning is an ancient method that is used for such soft, porous leathers as
chamois and deerskin, which can be repeatedly wetted and dried without harmful
effects. Fish oil is scattered onto the hides and pounded in with mechanical
hammers. The hides are then hung in ovens, and the oxidized oil adheres to the
skin fibres.
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Oil Tanning
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Wet-white tanning
This refers to leather with a pale cream or white color. This fairly new method
of tanning has been gaining popularity, partially due to increased concern for
the environment. Wet white tanned leathers are free of chrome and recyclable.
The main products used for wet white tanning are synthetic tannins, such as
phenolic, disulphonic and naphthalenic products, aldehydes, metals
(Zirconium, Aluminium, etc.).
The tanning based on alum, zirconium, titanium, iron salts or a combination
thereof lead to 'wet white'. Wet white is also a semi finished stage like wet blue,
but is much more eco friendly. The shrinkage temperature of wet white varies
from 70 to 85 degree Celsius, while that of wet blue varies from 95 to 100
degree Celsius.
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Wet-white tanning
leather and leather products sometimes contain some hazardous substances
like chromium (VI) although only chromium compounds in the form of
chromium (III) were used in the tanning process. It has been concluded that
the chromium (VI) in the leather is formed by an oxidation of the chromium (III)
added to the leather during the tanning processes.
In order to avoid this issue wet white leathers are produced
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Wet-white tanning
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Advantages of wet white tanning
• Wet-white leathers are lighter in color and can be converted into pastel shade leathers
• Shrinking temperatures of at least 70°C
• High softness
• Good lightness
• Natural sensation
• Pleasant touch
• Beauty over the time
• High performance leather can be obtained, often better than chrome tanning
• Leather can be burnt without the hazard of chromium (VI) formation
Wet-white tanning
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Wet-white tanning
Disadvantages of wet white tanning
• Slightly higher production cost compared to chrome tanning. Newer
techniques have reduced this difference
• Requires more controls compared to chrome tanning
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Difference Between Raw & Pure Leather
SL NO.
Raw Leather Pure Leather
1 It is degradable It is not normally degradable
2 It is shrinkable It is not shrinkable
3 It cannot be used It is usable
4 Water can be penetrated through the small pore It water resistant
5 It is used as raw material for pure leather It is used as practical purpose
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Finishing of LeatherAfter tanning process, the leather is dried and accumulated in a godown. This leather is called
crush leather. This crushed leather is then treated according to the customer demand. The
treatment process of crush leather is known as finishing of leather. This process involves the
following steps:
1. Removal of excess water and tanning liquor
2. Shaving and splitting
3. Neutralizing and coloring
4. Setting out
5. Drying
6. Finishing operations
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Finishing of Leather1. Removal of excess water and tanning liquor
The leather contains excess water and tan liquor specially in case of vegetable tanning. The
goods are dipped in vat containing mild tanning liquor which leaches out the uncombined tannin.
The stock is then pressed in a hydraulic press or by passing it through a wringer.
2. Shaving and splittingLeather may be split into layers for making top leathers and glove stock. This is done with the help of a
sharp knife which can penetrate to a desired depth below the grain surface. For light leathers, the leather
is shaved on a shaving machine containing sharp spiral knife blades fitted in revolving cylinder.
3. Neutralizing and coloring
The leather is washed in a drum and neutralized with mild alkali and again washed. Then the
stock is dyed in direct dye solution in warm water. In case of vegetable tanned leather, it is
bleached also with oxalic acid or sulfuric acid or formic acid before dying. Hypo may be used to
remove excess acid. Dying is performed in drums about 0.5 to 2.0% basic dye based on the
weight of leather dissolved in warm water being used. The drum is rotated for half an hour and
then little amount of formic acid is added to destroy excess dye.
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Finishing of Leather4. Setting out
The leather is set out either by machine or by hand. The machine consists of revolving
cylinders which smoothen the leather and stretch it. As a result the water present in the
leather is squeezed out.
5. DryingChrome leather is covered with saw dust and left for a day or two to remove part of the moisture about
35%. They are staked and dried in tunnel after stretching on frames. After drying the leather is allowed
to stand to attain equilibrium moisture and then stacked and finished. Vegetable tanned leathers are
dried by taking on wooden frames and then stacking in tunnels through which air with controlled
temperature and humidity is passed.
6. Finishing operations
Light leathers are finished by applying pigment coat, plasticizers etc. Chrome leather is glazed
by a machine having rotating glass cylinder. The friction improve the glaze. Vegetable tanned
leather is finished by applying oil to the grain surface and passing it through a heavy roller.
Vegetable tanned leather are given decorative patterns by embossing with a hydraulic press.
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Chemicals Used in Leather ProcessingBiocidesBiocides prevent the growth of bacteria which can damage the hides or skins during the soaking process
SurfactantsSurfactants are used to help with the wetting back of the hides or skins
DegreasersDegreasers help with the removal of natural fats and greases from the hides or skins
Swell regulating agentsSwell regulating agents help prevent uneven swelling of the hides or skins during liming
LimeLime is used to swell the hides or skins
Sodium sulphideSodium sulphide chemically destroys the hair on hides or skins
Sodium hydrosulphideSodium hydrosulphide chemically destroys the hair on hides or skins. It does not create as much swelling as sodium sulphide
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Chemicals Used in Leather Processing
Low sulphide unhairing agentsLow sulphide unhairing agents help to reduce the amount of sulphides used in a tannery thus reducing
Caustic sodaCaustic soda is used during the liming process to help swell the hides or skins
Soda ashSoda ash is used during the soaking or liming processes to help raise the pH of the hides or skins
Ammonium sulphateAmmonium sulphate is used during the deliming process and helps remove lime from the hides or skins
Ammonium chlorideAmmonium chloride is used during the deliming process and helps remove lime from the hides or skins
Sodium metabisulphiteSodium metabisulphite is used during the deliming process and helps prevent the formation of toxic hydrogen
Formic acid
Formic acid is used during the pickling process to lower the pH of the hides or skins
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Chemicals Used in Leather ProcessingSulphuric acidSulphuric acid is used during the pickling process to lower the pH of the hides or skins
SaltSalt is used during the pickling process to prevent acid swelling of the hides or skins
Sodium formateSodium formate is used during the tanning process to assist with the penetration of chromium tanning
salts into the hides or skins
Chromium sulphateChromium sulphate is the tanning agent used to make wet blue
Aldehyde tanning agentsAldehydes are tanning agents used to make wet white
Magnesium oxideMagnesium oxide is used during basification and raises the pH of the hide or skin to allow the chromium
or aldehyde to chemically bind to the skin protein
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Several tanning processes transform hides and skins into leather:
Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned using tannins and other ingredients found in different
vegetable matter, such as tree bark prepared in bark mills, wood, leaves, fruits and roots and
other similar sources. Vegetable-tanned leather is not stable in water; it tends to discolor
Chrome-tanned leather, invented in 1858, is tanned using chromium sulfate and other salts
of chromium. It is also known as wet-blue for its color derived from the chromium. More esoteric
colors are possible using chrome tanning.
Aldehyde-tanned leather is tanned using glutaraldehyde or oxazolidine compounds. This is the
leather that most tanners refer to as wet-white leather due to its pale cream or white color. It is
the main type of "chrome-free" leather, often seen in automobiles and shoes for infants.
Types of Leather
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Types of LeatherIn general, leather is sold in four forms:
Full-grain leather refers to hides that have not been sanded, buffed, or snuffed (as opposed to top-grain or
corrected leather) to remove imperfections (or natural marks) on the surface of the hide. The grain remains
allowing the fiber strength and durability.
Top-grain leather (the most common type used in high-end leather products) is the second-highest quality. Also
referred to as “Genuine Leather”, top-grain leather has had the top layer removed, which removes the bug bites,
scars, etc., making the grain side more uniform in appearance.
Corrected-grain leather is any leather that has had an artificial grain applied to its surface. The hides used to
create corrected leather do not meet the standards for use in creating vegetable-tanned or aniline leather.
Split leather is leather created from the fibrous part of the hide left once the top-grain of the rawhide has been
separated from the hide. Split leather is what’s left after the top grain of the hide is remove. Depending on the
thickness of the original hide, multiple splits can be cut from the same hide. During the splitting operation, the
top-grain and drop split are separated.
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Types of Leather
Full Grain Top Grain
SplitCorrected Grain
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Environmental impact
Leather is a product with some environmental impact, most notably due to:
• The use of chemicals in the tanning process (e.g. chromium, formic acid, mercury and
solvents, ...)
• Air pollution due to the transformation process (hydrogen sulfide during dehairing and ammonia
during deliming, solvent vapors).
• Leather biodegrades slowly; it takes 25 to 40 years to decompose. However, vinyl and petro-
chemical derived materials will take 500 or more years to break down and return to the earth.
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Environmental impact
One ton of hide or skin generally leads to the production of 20 to 80 M3 of wastewater
including chromium levels of 100–400mg/L, sulfide levels of 200–800mg/L and high
levels of fat and other solid wastes, as well as notable pathogen contamination. Pesticides are
also often added for hide conservation during transport. With solid wastes representing up to
70% of the wet weight of the original hides, the tanning process comes at a considerable
strain on water treatment installations.
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Waste discharge from tanneries pollutes the air, soil, and water, causing serious health
problems. Exposure to such contaminated environmental milieu has been seen to culminate in a
multiple array of disease processes such as asthma, dermatitis, hepatic and neurological
disorders, and various malignancies. An overall scarcity of research on the occupational
hazards of employment in the leather industry as well as its effects on pediatric population was
observed.
Health impact
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Health Impact
Chromium commonly occurs in two forms. Trivalent chromium (chromium III) is a naturally occurring element that
is relatively stable and innocuous, and can be found in plants, animals, and soil. Hexavalent chromium (chromium
VI) is far more dangerous for humans, and is usually created by anthropogenic causes.
Hexavalent chromium is a toxic human carcinogen that can cause or increase the rates of certain cancers.
Inhalation of chromium VI, which occurs most frequently among workers, has been found to cause cancer of the
respiratory system. Inhalation of dust contaminated with chromium can also lead to eye damage, ulcerations,
swelling, asthmatic bronchitis, and irritation to the throat and nose. More chronic exposure can sometimes
cause sores to develop in the nose and can even lead to the formation of holes in the nasal septum.
Ingestion of chromium VI can cause stomach problems, such as ulcers, and can also be damaging for kidney and
liver functions. Dermal contact causes a number of skin problems, including rashes, sores, and ulcers.
In addition, several studies have found evidence that chromium accumulation in the body can damage a person’s
ability to metabolize iron, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia.
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Tannery Pollution
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Tannery Pollution
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Tannery Pollution
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Thank you all
Sunday, October 11, 2015