Development of Processes in the Use of Peroxide as an Ingredient to Reduce Free Formaldehyde Levels in the Skin

This study aims to reduce the levels of free formaldehyde in the skin. The material used is goat skin. The process is carried out by formaldehyde (formalin) tanning on pickled goat skin. Furthermore, skin that has been tanned with formalin is washed with peroxide (H2O2) 0.5%, 1% and 2%. The formalin tanned skin produced was tested for formalin levels contained in the skin, then the data obtained was analysed by One Way ANOVA test. In addition, physical tests were carried out for the average value of tear strength and softness. The results showed that the higher the level of H2O2 used, the smaller the formalin content in the skin. The best results were obtained using 1% H2O2 which was 0.12 ± 0.005 % (p <0.05) taking into account the safety aspects of H2O2 . Furthermore, free formaldehyde levels of 0.045 mg/kg were obtained at 1% H2O2 . The value of tear strength with formaldehyde is higher than that of chrome tanning while the softness value is still below that of chrome tanning. Therefore, the use of H2O2 can be considered in an effort to reduce the levels of formaldehyde contained in formaldehyde as an alternative tanner substitute for chrome minerals.