This document discusses the use of probiotic solutions for more sustainable leather production. Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits. Probiotic biochemicals produced from fermentation of probiotic cultures and natural ingredients can be used in the leather processing. They have hydrotropic properties that help remove dirt and solubilize proteins from hides. Their use can reduce chemical and water usage in soaking, liming, degreasing, tanning and finishing steps. This leads to lower COD levels and improved leather quality while providing a more environmentally friendly production method.

1. Probiotics solutions for
sustainable leather
XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI (India) 2017
Claus Reineking, Joan Carles Castell

2. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
R3 environment responsibility
Background
35 m3 water
200 kg chemicals
300 kg chemical aux.
Energy
Reduce Reuse Recycle
1 ton raw hide
250 kg leather
250 Kg O2 (COD)
100 Kg O2 (BOD)
150 Kg SS
5 Kg Cr
10 Kg Sulfide
35 m3 water
500 Kg sludge from WWTP
600 Kg solid process residues
5 kg volatiles

3. ■ Probiotics: live microorganisms that confer health benefits
■ A natural technology to repopulate environments with healthy microorganisms
Based on probiotics:
Technical Fundamentals
XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017

4. Probiotic biochemicals from proprietary fermentation and formulation technology
using probiotic mother culture and particular natural raw ingredients.
Based on probiotics:
Technical Fundamentals
XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Probiotics Natural raw ingredients
MetabolitesFermentation

5. ■ Natural bioreaction → Low carbon footprint
■ No toxic, no hazardous, no corrosive
■ From renewable resources
■ 100 % Biodegradable
Technical Fundamentals
XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Sustainability based
on probiotics:

6. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Hydrotropic properties:
■ Increase solubility of sparingly soluble organic molecules:
­ Substances in the leather:
§ Dirt, dung, waxes, phospholipids,…
§ Soluble proteins (hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate, GAG, globulins… )
­ Processing chemicals
■ Water transfer from particle to particle:
Probiotic biochemicals
Properties (1)

7. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Probiotic biochemicals
Properties (1)
Fibra de colágeno
Fibras de colágeno vistas
con microscopio
Fibrilla
Microfibrilla
Cadenas de
tropocolágeno
Cadenas de
aminoacidos
Estructura de una fibra de colágeno

8. ■ Are compatible with all chemicals used in the leather making process and do not
require to adjust the conditions (pH, temperature,…) beyond those required in the
manufacturing operations.
■ Except under unusual conditions1, the soaking operation using Proviera products
is free of bactericides and can reduce bad odors or putrefaction.
1 deficient preservation, long soaking time, water conditions,….
XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Probiotic biochemicals
Properties (2)

9. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Material & methods
Probiotic Degreasing
Agent PG
Effects:
§ Strip off fats
§ Degrease auxiliary
Operations:
§ Presoaking fatty hides/skins
§ Degreasing sheepskins
Probiotic Soaking Agent PK
Effects:
§ Soaking fresh hides & skins/hydrating
§ Removal of non-structured proteins
Probiotic Dispersing
Agent PS
Effects:
§ Dispersing organic material
§ Dispersing process chemicals
§ Cleaning
Operations:
§ Pre soaking, esp. salted hides
§ Liming
§ Retanning, fatliquoring, dying
DRY
FAT DIRT
Operations:
§ Main soaking, esp. fresh hides
§ Washing wet blue/wetting back

10. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Material & methods
Beamhouse: (% on raw weight of hides/skins)
Washing: 0.1% PK + 0%-0.05% PD (No pH adjustments)
Pre-soaking: 0.2%-0.5% PS + 0%-0.05% PG (No pH adjustments)
Replacing soaking agents (surfactants, enzymes) and degreasers. No bactericides.
Main soaking: 0.3%-0.5% PK + 0%-0.3% PS (Adjust pH to 8.5-9.5 for liming)
Replacing soaking agents (surfactants, enzymes) No bactericides.
Unhairing / liming: 0.2% PD
Eliminate or reducing amines, organic reductive agents, polyphosphates

11. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Material & methods
Degreasing: (Sheepskins % on pickled weight of skins)
0.5%-3% PS + 3%-6% PG (1 up to 3 washes)
Combined with degreasing agents.
Tanning: % on limed weight
0.2%-0.5% PS
Replacing dispersing agents

12. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Material & methods
Wet end: (% on shaved weight of hides/skins)
Wetting back / Washing: 0.5%-2% PS + 0%-1% PK + 0%-1% PG
Replacing surfactants, ammonia, oxalic acid
Retanning / Fatliquoring / Dyeing: 0.5%-2% PS or PG
Replacing surfactants, ammonia, dyeing auxiliaries (naphthalene sulphonic derivatives, ethoxilate amines

13. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Results & discussions
Beamhouse:
Washing / Pre-soaking / Main soaking:
■ Clean / degreased hide / skin surface
■ Uniform rehydration. Slight lyotropic swelling (fiber sponginess + relaxation)
■ No putrefacting odors and hide/skin bacterial damages
■ No foaming
■ Reduction of COD (from 25-35 to 15-25 Kg O2/tonne of hide)
■ Increase of BOD/COD ratio

14. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Results & discussions
Beamhouse:
Unhairing / liming:
■ Improve dispersion of lime and open wrinkles
■ Lowe draw marks, pelts more relaxed and flatter
■ Easier removal of hair roots
Standard Proviera
Standard Proviera
Standard
Proviera
Potential better sorting and increase of area and area yield

15. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Results & discussions
Degreasing:
■ Improve efficiency of the degreasing process
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Double
Face
Nappa
Ini6al
fat
content
Standard:
commercial
degreasing
agent
2/3
commercial
degreasing
+1/3
PG

16. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Results & discussions
Wet end:
Washing / wetting back:
■ Clean and uniform surface on the leather
■ No impact on waterproofing
■ No foaming
Retanning / fatliquoring / dyeing
■ Improves dispersion and exhaustion of chemicals
■ Better fault coverage
Ammonia Ethoxilate
Amine
Naphthalene
Sulf.
Probiotic Aux.

17. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Results & discussions
Potential reduction of COD (mg O2 / ton of raw hide, brine cured)1:
1 Based on standards which are widely applied and found generally acceptable (i.e. tends to ignore specific individual situations). Variables
that influence the results are the chemicals already used in the tannery, origin of raw hides, preservation methods, mechanical action, etc.
0
50
100
150
200
250
Finishing
Post
tanning
Tanning
opera6ons
Rest
beamhouse
Soaking
Up to 24% all process

18. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Conclusions
■ Path breaking technology with no impact on environment
■ Natural biochemicals from renewable resources. 100% biodegradable
■ Characterized by hydrotropic properties
■ Delay damages caused by bacteria and bad odors
■ Replace or combine chemical auxiliaries
■ Improve leather quality, save water consumption and costs

19. XXXIV IULTCS Congress, CHENNAI/INDIA 2017
Acknowledgements
STAHL HOLDINGS B.V. Waalwijk. Netherlands
SCD PROBIOTICS. Kansas City. MO. USA
PROVIERA BIOTECH. Kansas City. MO. USA
PROKLEAN TECHNOLOGIES, PVT LTD. Chennai. India