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The use of surface active agents in tanning of leather
Author(s) -
Filachione Edward M.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02890757
Subject(s) - chemistry , ammonium , ethylene oxide , cationic polymerization , organic chemistry , phenol , pulmonary surfactant , preservative , fatty alcohol , polymer , copolymer , biochemistry
Abstract There are about 25 operations in the process of converting hides and skins into leather. Surface active agents are important in a number of these and find wide use in the leather‐making industry. Both anionic and nonionic types are widely used while cationics have more specialized use. Sulfated oils (especially cod, sperm and neatsfoot), soaps, sulfated higher alcohols and alkylbenzene sulfonates are the main anionic surfactants used. The nonionics are principally condensation products of ethylene oxide with a secondary alcohol of 11–15 carbons or with octyl and nonyl phenol, introducing 7–10 oxyethylene units. Examples of the cationic type are the quaternary ammonium salts, i.e., lauryl, cetyl and stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. Surface active agents are used at various stages of the leather‐making process. They are used in soaking, unhairing, bating, pickling, tanning and coloring, where they serve principally as processing aids. They find more important use in fatliquoring, impregnation and finishing, where they become a part of the leather composition. Certain surfactants, namely, chrome complexes of fatty acids and perfluoro acids, and long chain alkenyl succinic acid have been used to impart water repellent properties to leather. Recent research shows promise of developing new uses for surfactants in the tanning industry. Long chain quarternary ammonium salts have shown promise as a short term preservative for freshly flayed hides and skins. An amphoteric surfactant, i.e., a long chain fatty amino acid of the structure RNHCH 2 CH 2 CO 2 H, has shown promise as leather lubricant with improved resistance to drycleaning solvents.