Chrome-Free Tanning Agents Using Polymeric Esters
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Solution Overview
Problem
The tanning industry faces challenges in finding chromium-free tanning agents that are environmentally safe and effective for tanning animal skins, as existing alternatives either require trivalent chromium compounds or are not used as sole tanning agents during the tanning process.
Innovation Solution
A tanning agent is developed by reacting diethanolamine with a dicarboxylic acid, such as succinic, glutaric, or adipic acid, to create a mixture of esters, amides, and polyamides, which can be used as a sole tanning agent in aqueous formulations, eliminating the need for trivalent chromium compounds and offering improved environmental sustainability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If trivalent chromium compounds are used as tanning agents, then good tanning characteristics are achieved, but environmental safety and operator health are compromised due to toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the harmful chromium component from the tanning process by using a completely different chemical approach - a polymeric composition containing amino-alcoholic units and dicarboxylic units that provides effective tanning without any chromium compounds, thereby removing the toxic element while maintaining the essential tanning function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the tanning agent from chromium-based to polymer-based, specifically using a polymeric composition with amino-alcoholic units and dicarboxylic units, which fundamentally alters the chemical nature of the tanning process to achieve both effectiveness and environmental safety
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vegetable or synthetic tannins are used as tanning agents, then environmental safety is improved, but the tanning characteristics are insufficient compared to chromium-based agents
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite polymeric material that combines amino-alcoholic units and dicarboxylic units in a specific structure, achieving superior tanning characteristics that surpass traditional vegetable or synthetic tannins while maintaining environmental safety, thus providing a composite solution that integrates the best properties of both effectiveness and eco-friendliness
3Object-affected harmful factors
If chromium-free tanning agents are used, then environmental sustainability is improved, but the ability to tan all types of animal hides effectively remains unsolved
Solution Approach 1:
The polymeric composition is designed with universal applicability to tan all types of animal hides including light, medium, and dark hides, as well as various exotic skins, providing a single multi-functional tanning solution that replaces the need for different chromium-based formulations for different hide types, thereby achieving both environmental sustainability and broad versatility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a chromium-free tanning process with low environmental impact, enhancing operator safety and producing skins that are soft, lightweight, and have low substance release, suitable for various applications including children's and allergic individuals' products, and use in confined spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The product according to the present invention is in fact the product of the reaction of diethanolamine with a dicarboxylic acid comprising from 2 to 6 carbon atoms
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of chrome-free products as tanning agents, a tanning aqueous formulation that comprises it and a tanning process of animal skins that uses such tanning formulations.