Kajian kualitas gambir dan hubungannya dengan karakteristik kulit tersamak

This study aimed to investigate the quality of gambier taken from gambier production center in West Sumatra, the characteristic of tanned leather which was tanned by gambier, and the relationship between gambier quality and tanned leather product. This study was conducted by firstly taking the samples from ten location randomly, secondly analizing some of its characteristics, and later applicating them in leather tanning. The relationship between some gambier parameters with tanned leather was determined by linear regression. The result was finding that the quality was varied among different gambier production centers, comprise of water content, tannin level, cathecin level, ash level and water-insoluble substances. Sixty percent of producton centers had given gambier which was capable to produce leather met the quality requirements. The result also found there were a strong relationship between gambier characteristics and quality of tanned leather, e.g. gambier tannin level and bonded-tannin in tanned leather (r=0.980), gambier catechins level and bonded-tannin in tanned leather (r=0.967) and gambier ash content and bonded-tannin in tanned leather (r=0.852). Highest tannin level would produce good tanned leather.