Polyanionic Bio-emulsifier: A Heteropolysaccharide Based Bio-composite for Leather Post Tanning Process

Abstract

Biopolymer-based composites are attracting significant interestin leather processing due to their incremental substitution ofpetrochemical products as raw materials in the retanning stage.Several polymeric bio-composites were developed and studied asalternatives to synthetic tanning agents (syntans). Bio-compositewas prepared by simultaneously dispersing cellulose (acting assyntan) and emulsifying soybean oil with a bio-emulsifiertermed Emulsan (acting as fatliquor). The resultant dualpropertied of fullness and softness is endowed as a leathersupplement to reduce the negative impact on the environment.Hence polymeric bio-composites were prepared throughultrasonication by blending different amounts of cellulose withsoybean oil with an optimised Emulsan ratio. In order toenhance the biocompatibility of this bio-composite, the Emulsansurfactant we chose was extracted from Acinetobactercalcoaceticus. The poly-anionic nature of Emulsan serves as astable surfactant to emulsify soybean oil into cellulose in thecomposite preparation. The resultant composites werecharacterised for functionality and physical properties by FTIR,DSC, TGA, and DLS. The value of an example composite inleathers’ post tanning processes was evaluated by utilising it as aretanning agent. Leather treated with a bio-polymeric compositeshowed improved strength and physical properties versuscontrol leathers.