Salt Free Preservation of Raw Goat Skin Using Swietenia Mahogany (Seed) Extract

Abstract

Curing of hides and skins using sodium salt is a well-established and economical preservation technique worldwide.  But it contributes to generating a large amount of total dissolved solids (TDS) and increasing the salinity of water during leather processing which is a threat to the environment.  The current research is an attempt to preserve goat skin using mahogany (Swietenia mahogany) seed’s extract.  In real practice different percentages of mahogany seed extract were applied on raw goat skin and 3% (by weight of skin) of it showed best result.  To evaluate the preservation efficiency, related parameters of preservation viz. odor, hair slip, shrinkage temperature, moisture content, bacterial count etc. were monitored regularly for 30 days.  The obtained results were compared with conventional salt curing process.  The experimental trial showed efficiency in lessening TDS value and chloride content. The preserved goat skins of both trials were treated following conventional leather processing techniques and physical properties were studied. The discussed preservation method exhibited comparable result in every index.