A process for the production of washable exotic leather from the requiem shark skins

Abstract

The present invention relates to the effective utilization of Requiem Shark skins, a by¬product of Fish meat industry, abundantly found in the Arabian Sea into washable two tone exotic leather with grain from the suitable prepared pelts in beamhouse for pre- tanning with 2% Glutaraldehyde and converting into leather through Chamois tanning; an environment friendly tanning employing 25% locally available fish oil both calculated on pelt weight followed by hanging for auto oxidation maintaining the temp between 25- 35°C for 15 days then washing with a mixture of water (40°C), sodium carbonate and non-ionic emulsifier, and lowering pH to 3.8 yield a product with wrinkled attractive grain, medium softness, dimmished grain harshness, quite different in texture and appearance to those leathers manufactured from the skins of traditional animals i.e. goat, sheep & bovine. The leather has been found fit for washable shoe uppers for casual shoes, sandals, evening shoes and shoe upper components. At present the Requiem Shark skins are either thrown away as solid waste or incorporated into poultry feed having practically no application for value added products.