X-ray studies of collagen material for leather production treated with chromium salt

Efforts have been made to investigate a treatment process that produces minimum effluents (i.e., environmentally friendly), and yet significantly increases the quality and heat resistance of a fibrous collagen material for the leather industry. The structural properties of collagen fibrils in chrome tanned bovine leather have been examined when chromium salts with different concentrations were applied to treat bovine skin collagen to obtain a leather product. The treated samples were dried and an X-ray diffraction study was carried out to assess the influence of chromium ion concentration on collagen fibres. Observations showed that molecular arrangement in collagen depends on concentration of chromium ions used in the tanning process. Bovine collagen treated with tanning agents at Chrome concentrations of (1,3,5,7,9,11%), resulted in changes in the molecular packing within the collagen fibrils. The shrinkage temperature of fibers cross-linked with chromium salt increases compared to the control.