Integrated chrome free upper leather processing - Part-II: Standardization and evaluation of vegetable-aluminium tanning system

In our earlier work, Vegetable-Aluminium (Veg-Al) combination tanning system was found to be suitable for the manufacture of integrated chrome free upper leather. This paper describes our efforts in the optimization of integrated upper leather processing. The physical strength properties, techno-economic feasibility and environment impact assessment studies of the integrated process in comparison with conventional upper leather processing from chrome tanning have also been carried out. The offer of post tanning auxiliaries viz., syntans and fatliquors is optimized based on the organoleptic properties of the leathers obtained. The integrated process and the leathers thereof were compared with upper leather processing and leathers from conventional chrome tanning respectively. The integrated process resulted in more than 60% saving of water compared to the conventional upper leather processing from chrome tanning. The experimental process has benefits in terms of improved productivity and decreased production cost due to reduced water, time, power and labor utilization resulting from the integration of process.