Abstract: Process for the production of leather, wherein, after liming, deliming and, if appropriate, pickling, animal hides are pretanned or tanned with a mixture of compounds comprising (a) at least one organic tanning agent and (b) a mixture of (b1) at least one C3-C12-dicarboxylic acid (b2) and at least one further acidic compound selected from C1-C3-mono- or C3-C12-dicarboxylic acids, or salts thereof.

Abstract: An abcite reinforced leather and a method for producing the abcite reinforced leather for use in making shoes, gloves and garments. Abcite pellets are ground into a fine powder and floated in a carrier so that they penetrate the fiber structure of a tanned skin. The abcite particles bond to the fiber structure and provide enhanced abrasion resistance and tensile strength to the leather. This abcite impregnated leather can be used to make gloves, shoes and garments. Also, abcite powder can be added to the surface to make the surface more durable and abrasion resistant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for lime- and sulfide-free unhairing of skins/hides using animal and/or herbal (plant) enzymes. The process comprises presoaking the skins or hides in water for 2–6 hours, pasting an enzyme solution of animal or plant origin on the flesh or grain side of the skins/hides and leaving the solution on the skins/hides for 10–24 h at a temperature ranging from 10° C. to 60° C. The soaking liquor is removed and the hides/skins to a bath of water containing 1 to 15% of enzyme for unhairing, with or without intermittent shaking, while maintaining the pH of the bath liquor at 4.5–10.0 for 12–24 h at ambient temperature. The skins/hides are then unhaired for further processing. The total elimination of lime and sulfide in the unhairing process leads to reduced TDS (total dissolved solids), BOD (biological oxygen demand) and COD (chemical oxygen demand) in the effluent without affecting the collagen of the skin/hide or the grain pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of alkaline protease using a fungal culture of the order entomophthorales and to the use of the said protease in the pretanning processes of leather manufacture.

Abstract: Leather is tanned by cross-linking collagen with tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or a condensate of a tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt with an amide or amine in a main tannage or retannage.

Abstract: Collagen membranes are formed from porcine rinds (i.e., pig skins) for us in a variety of applications and, most preferably, for wrapping food products, such as hams and the like. First, after removing skins from the porcine, the skins are promptly frozen. In later processing, the rinds are thawed and then enzymatically defatted. Then, a quick alkalinic hydrolyzation is performed on the rinds. Then, an acidic hydrolyzation is performed on the rinds. The rinds are then ground into a gel-like fluid mass. Finally, the fluid mass is extruded, sheeted and dried into a collagen membrane. The collagen membrane produced can be, in preferred embodiments, used for wrapping food products, such as hams.