Typical Defects of Natural Phospholipid Fatliquors in Leather Industry and Their Solutions

Abstract

Leather made with soybean phospholipid fatliquors is prone to problems such as yellowing, elevated hexavalent chromium content, and undesirable odor. In this study, the aforementioned typical defects of soybean phospholipid fatliquors were investigated in respect to the main components, the antioxidants and the unsaturation degree of the natural soybean phospholipid. The results showed that the oxidation of soybean phospholipid is the primary source for its yellowing, elevated hexavalent chromium content, and undesirable odor. The volatile aldehydes produced by lipid oxidative rancidity are the main components of the undesirable odor. The purification of natural soybean phospholipid through removing the non-phospholipid components cannot solve the problems caused by oxidation of phospholipid. Furthermore, as a typical natural antioxidant existing in natural soybean phospholipid, tocopherols can restrain the oxidation of phospholipid to a certain degree, however, the dissolving out and destruction of tocopherols at high temperature in the phospholipid purification process can lead to more obviously oxidation of phospholipids. Additionally, the oxidation defects of phospholipid cannot be completely resolved by adding extra tocopherols, even at high dosages. The research finds that the defects of soybean phospholipid fatliquors can be thoroughly solved by increasing the saturation degree of lipid through addition reaction, the suggested iodine value of phospholipid products is lower than 20 g I₂/100 g.