Leather Tanning via Cyclic Carbonate Reaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available resin tanning agents, such as those derived from aldehydes and nitrogen compounds, often result in leathers with inadequate softness and coloring intensity, and pose toxicological concerns due to the release of aldehydes like formaldehyde.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the reaction of cyclic organic carbonates with compounds having multiple nucleophilic groups, such as sulfonic acid, hydroxyl, or amino groups, is used to produce leather, enhancing fullness, softness, and coloring intensity while avoiding toxic aldehyde emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If resin tanning agents derived from aldehydes and nitrogen compounds are used, then leather body is improved, but softness and coloring intensity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the tanning agent by using cyclic organic carbonates (different from conventional aldehydes) reacting with nitrogen compounds containing multiple nucleophilic groups. This parameter change in the chemical structure enables simultaneous achievement of good leather body, softness, and coloring intensity that cannot be obtained with traditional aldehyde-based agents.
2Strength
If resin tanning agents are used, then leather body is improved, but toxicological safety deteriorates due to aldehyde secretion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the harmful aldehyde component entirely by using cyclic organic carbonates as the starting material instead of aldehydes. The cyclic carbonate structure reacts to form stable tanning agents that do not release toxic aldehydes, thus converting the harmful chemical pathway into a safe one while maintaining effective tanning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful aldehyde component from the tanning agent system by substituting it with cyclic organic carbonate-based chemistry. The resulting tanning agents are free from aldehyde groups, eliminating the toxicological hazard of aldehyde secretion while preserving the desired leather body properties.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional tanning agents are used, then production process is simple, but product quality deteriorates in terms of softness and coloring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite tanning agents formed by the reaction of cyclic organic carbonates with nitrogen compounds containing multiple nucleophilic groups. This composite chemical structure combines the benefits of both components, enabling the tanning agent to simultaneously provide good leather body, exceptional softness, and intense coloring, thereby improving product quality without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
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 process yields leather with improved properties like fullness, softness, and coloring intensity, suitable for various applications, including shoes, car interiors, and clothing, without the toxicological issues associated with traditional agents.
Implementation Method 1
reacting (A) at least one cyclic organic carbonate with (B) at least one compound with at least two nucleophilic groups per molecule, selected from sulfonic acid, hydroxyl, primary or secondary amino or mercapto groups
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing leather consists in using products obtained by reacting (A) at least one type of cyclic organic carbonate with (B) at least one compound containing at least two nucleophilic per molecule groups which are selected from sulphuric acid, hydroxyl, primary or secondary amino or mercapto groups.