Zeolite-chrome tanning: From laboratory to pilot scale

Zeolites as sustainable alternatives to traditional tanning chemistries

“…18 Previous work relating to the leather sector has indicated zeolite derivatives have potential to stabilise leather materials, which was dependent on the extent, and method, of the breakdown of the silicate structure. [19][20][21] These previous works focused on the application but lacked the characterisation and mechanistic understanding required to fully utilise this chemistry for industrial use. The collagen-stabilising potential of zeolites has recently been introduced as an industrial alternative to established chemistries, which has prompted the need to study the green metrics of this approach.…”

A review of the green chemistry approaches to leather tanning in imparting sustainable leather manufacturing

“…Pilot scale tanning of sheepskin with 76.4 g kg −1 Cr in the presence of 30.0 g kg −1 sodium zeolite exhibited a shrinkage temperature of 104.0 °C along with a substantial increase in tensile and tearing strength and the water consumption was only 0.93 l kg −1 (without fatliquoring). 68 The results show that the required dosage of Cr can be substantially reduced by adding other metal ions.…”

“…Zeolite was added to the Cr tanning bath to increase the Cr uptake, reducing the Cr requirement to achieve satisfactory tanning performance and Cr loading in the effluent. 68 Improvement of Cr adsorption by using additives. In the case of a 100% aqueous tanning system, intraparticle diffusion is the rate-limiting step and additives are used to overcome that issue.…”

“…Zeolite was added to the Cr tanning bath to increase the Cr uptake, reducing the Cr requirement to achieve satisfactory tanning performance and Cr loading in the effluent. 68…”

Synthesis and Characterization of High Aluminum Zeolite X from Technical Grade Materials

“…Zeolites with different structure are known to be obtained by synthesis [2][3][4][5][6][7]. They are either synthesized from aluminosilicate hydrogel or by conversion of clay minerals.…”