Preparation of biobased sponges from un-tanned hides

Authors: SIDDIQUE, AISHA - Quaid-I-university Islamabad; Latona, Nicholas - Nick; Taylor, Maryann; Liu, Cheng Kung

Submitted to: Journal of American Leather Chemists Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/18/2016
Publication Date: 5/1/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62626
Citation: Siddique, A., Latona, N.P., Taylor, M.M., Liu, C. 2016. Preparation of biobased sponges from un-tanned hides. Journal of American Leather Chemists Association. 111(5):192-199.

Interpretive Summary: Due to fierce competition in global markets, the American leather and hide industries need to implement new technology for producing novel products using either raw hides or recycled tannery waste. One of our efforts to address these challenges is to develop novel products such as biobased, collagen sponges from hides and tannery waste. Collagen sponges have many unique properties that are desirable in medical applications. They are being widely used to stop bleeding in surgery. This study focused on preparations of collagen sponges from un-tanned hides, including limed hides and delimed-bated hides, which correspond with their actual tannery waste of limed splits and their trimmings. We investigated the effects of processing steps such as bating and alkaline treatments using sodium hydroxide on the physical properties of the resultant sponges from un-tanned hides. Results showed that the treatments of hide fibers have significant effects on the quality of sponges. The mechanical testing showed alkaline treatments yielded stiffer sponges than limed and bated samples. Analysis showed the molecular weights of sponges were maintained in the range as those of commercial collagen samples. These research results are instrumental to help hides and leather industry to produce biobased sponges, which have many medical applications.

Technical Abstract: One of our research endeavors to address ongoing challenges faced by the U.S. hide and leather industries 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, green composites, and films from collagen fiber networks, which were extracted from un-tanned hides and from tannery solid wastes, such as splits or trimmings. Recently, we investigated the preparation of biobased sponges from un-tanned, specifically limed hides, which have potential commercial applications in medical care. Collagen fiber networks were obtained from hides that have been processed to remove the noncollagenous materials through the hair removal and liming steps. We investigated the effects of processing steps such as bating and alkaline treatments using sodium hydroxide on the morphology and viscoelasticity of resultant sponges from un-tanned hides. Results showed that the treatments of fiber networks have significant effects on the properties of resultant sponges. The resultant sponges are in the desirable apparent density ranges. The dynamic mechanical analysis showed alkaline treatments yielded stiffer sponges than limed and bated samples. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the molecular weights of sponges were maintained in the range as those of commercial collagen samples.