ARS | Publication request: PREPARATION OF FILLERS FOR LEATHER FROM ENZYMATICALLY MODIFIED COLLAGEN BY-PRODUCTS

Submitted to: American Leather Chemists Association Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2005
Publication Date: June 20, 2005
Citation: Taylor, M.M., Bumanlag, L.P., Marmer, W.N., Brown, E.M. 2005. Preparation of fillers for leather from enzymatically modified collagen by-products [abstract]. American Leather Chemists Association. Paper No. 13.

Technical Abstract: Prior research from this laboratory demonstrated that chemically modified gelatins could be used effectively as fillers during leather processing. These gelatins were reacted with glutaraldehyde and were then applied to veiny leather. The applications were followed by using fluorescently labeled gelatin, which was added to a stock solution, and the final products were examined under a microscope that was equipped with optics for epifluorescence. The data showed that these highly polymerized gelatins did fill and more importantly were bound to the substrate. In this present study, gelatins were polymerized by enzymatic modification and these reactions took place in either the leather itself or the products were prepared first and then added to the leather. Varying conditions were examined for optimal filling results; these reactions were also monitored by the use of a fluorescent label attached to the gelatin. The results showed that these enzymatically prepared products, like the chemically polymerized gelatins, could be used effectively as fillers and, moreover, were bound to the leather and thus not easily removed during further processing.