Author
|
Submitted to: International Leather Chemists Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Book chapter - interpretive summary is not a required entry. Technical Abstract: Research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of potassium chloride (KCl) as an alternative to sodium chloride (NaCl) for the preservation of cattle hides. The incentive for this research is that concentrated KCl solutions do not cause the environmental problems that are associated with saturated NaCl brine. Excess KCl brine from a curing raceway can be applied directly to the soil as a fertilizer providing potassium, a necessary plant macro nutrient. While KCl is more expensive than salt on a pound for pound basis the savings in brine disposal in some situations will more than make up the difference. Two major studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium chloride preservation on leather quality. A one hundred matched-side study compared KCl paddle-cured hides with NaCl raceway-cured hides stored for forty days. No significant differences were observed in two different lines of leather manufactured from these hides. The second study compared sodium and potassium chloride raceway-cured hides after three months and six months storage. All indications are that potassium chloride is a viable alternative to sodium chloride for the preservation of cattle hides. |
