Preservation of Bovine Hide Using Less Salt with Low Concentration of Antiseptic, Part I: Effectiveness of Developed Formulations

Abstract

Bovine raw hides are commercially cured either with high saltconcentration of about half the weight of actual hide or 95%saturated brine solution. This conventional technique is verypopular due to the availability of common salt (sodium chloride)and its cost-effective procedure but it generates a huge pollutionproblem increasing salinity. As a result, an alternative method ofusing less or no salt for hide preservation needs to be developed.For the preservation of hide it is essential to arrest microbialattack on hide as the main constituent of raw hide is proteinwhich is very susceptible for bacterial degradation. Such bacterialdegradation leads to the putrefaction of raw hide beforeconverting them into leather. Agricultural Research Servicesscientists at Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, have developed antisepticbased formulations for hide curing where only 45% saturatedbrine solution is used. The newly developed formulations havebeen found more effective in limiting microbial growth for alonger time on cured skin than the regular brine process andthus preserve hides for more than 30 days. In-process analysis ofcured hides during storage period reveals the compatibility ofthe alternative curing process in comparison to the traditionalmethod. Therefore, this new development will not only preservehide through better protection from microorganisms but alsooffers improved conservation of the environment.