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Title: Biobased films prepared from collagen solutions derived from un-tanned hides

Author
item Liu, Cheng Kung
item Latona, Nicholas - Nick
item Taylor, Maryann
item Ramos, Mila

Submitted to: American Leather Chemists Association Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2015
Publication Date: 6/10/2015
Citation: Liu, C., Latona, N.P., Taylor, M.M., Ramos, M. 2015. Biobased films prepared from collagen solutions derived from un-tanned hides [abstract]. American Leather Chemists Association Meeting. p. 101.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The U.S. hide and leather industries are facing challenges of meeting environmental imperatives; quantifying, maintaining, and improving current hides and leather product quality; developing new processes and products; and improving utilization of waste. One of our contributions to address these ongoing challenges is to develop innovative uses and novel biobased products from hides to improve prospective markets and to secure a viable future for hides and leather industries. We had previously investigated the production of nonwoven and green composites from collagen fiber networks, which were extracted from un-tanned hides and from tannery solid wastes, such as splits or trimmings. Recently, we focused on preparing biobased films from un-tanned; specifically limed hides, which have potential commercial applications in medical care and food packaging. Collagen fiber networks were obtained from hides that have been processed to remove the noncollagenous materials through the hair removal and liming steps. We also focused on understanding the effects of processing steps such as bating and crosslinking treatments on the morphology and physical properties of biobased films from un-tanned hides. Results showed that the concentration of collagen solution and the methods of crosslinking with glutaraldehyde during the film formation process have significant effects on the properties of resultant films. Higher concentrations of collagen and addition of glutaraldehyde crosslinkers after solidification of the films yielded better mechanical properties. The encouraging results of this ongoing research are instrumental to produce biobased films, which have wide applications in both the medical field due to good biocompatibility and the food packaging because of excellent mechanical properties and acceptable edibility.