Nano-Bio Aldehyde system for Leather Manufacture

Content: Development of eco-friendly chemicals from natural renewable resources are widely explored owing to its eco-acceptable and sustainability. Exploring biopolymers is the need of an hour to combat the sustainability in leather processing. Finishing is an imperative step that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the final leathers, in which, protein finishing system is known for its glazing properties. Commonly used cross-linkers as such formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are restricted owing to biocompatibility issues. However, the use of crosslinker is inevitable for protein finish system. In the present research, nano-bio polyaldehyde (NBP) system is established through selective oxidation of starch; the size of the system is fine-tuned in the nano range for effective and efficient crosslinking through emulsion technique. The architectural design of NBP is ascertained as a good crosslinking agent for leather finishing chemicals from the characterization studies. A particle size of the NBP system found to be in the range of 80-110 nm. The surface properties of NBP treated leathers were characterized by the contact angle. The leather samples showed improved hydrophobicity nature with a contact angle of ~ 126º and also enhanced wet, rub fastness, color fastness, and adhesion strength. The study provides an insight on tunability of known biopolymers for developing sustainable technology. Take-Away: An insight on tunability of known biopolymers for developing sustainable technolog