Collagen Hydrolysate from Chromed Shavings for Leather Finish

Chrome shavings are posing a pollution threat. An alkali-enzymatic hydrolysis method was utilized to get collagen hydrolysate (CH) as possible constituent for leather finishing formulations. The new enzyme preparation Vilzim PRO Conc was exploited for the hydrolysis. The dependence of CH properties on conditions of hydrolysis was explored. The direct addition 5% CH into finishing compositions increases tensile strength and relative elongation of films obtained from the compositions. Further increase of the collagen hydrolysate content in the films leads to worse mechanical properties of the films.