Process for preparing animal hides or pelts

US5900027A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Helmut Geihsler · Cologne, DE
• Eckhard Weidner · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 19, 1997
• Grant date: May 4, 1999
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C14C9/02
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In order to make processes for finishing animal hides or pelts less labor-intensive and more environmentally compatible, a process is proposed in which, following a conventionally conducted soak, the animal hides or pelts are treated with a conventional tanning solution in which carbon dioxide has been dissolved under pressure. This makes it possible to reduce considerably the period of time usually required for the production of leather or pelts, since the treatment period is reduced markedly. Furthermore, it is possible in this way to combine conventional treatment steps and to conduct them in only one single treatment step. Instead of the 20 to 40 t of waste water per tonne of leather or pelt which are customary with conventional processes, only about 2 t of waste water per tonne of leather or pelt are now produced. Besides having a sharply reduced environmental impact, the proposed process is also significantly more economical than conventional processes, owing to the considerably shorter overall processing time.