9 research outputs found
Ficus sycomorus as a Sustainable Source of Leather Dyeing Material: An Ecofriendly Approach
No full textNatural colorants play a vital role in the production of eco-leather by substituting environmentally hazardous and toxic synthetic dyestuffs. In this study, a natural dye is extracted and optimized from the bark of Ficus sycomorus, a plant species locally known as shola, by designing different combinations of concentration, temperature, and time parameters. A dye extracted from 120 g/l concentration at a temperature of 1000°C for 60 minutes showed the highest absorbance value, and it has been used for further dyeing processes with and without mordant. Properties such as color strength (k/s), L∗a∗b∗ values, and color fastness of a dyed leather specimen were measured and analyzed. Oxalic acid mordant-dyed leather samples mordanted with the postmordanting method have revealed the highest k/s value among other experimental samples. Moreover, better color fastness properties were obtained from a leather sample mordanted with oxalic acid. Consequently, a dye extracted from the bark of Ficus sycomorus can be used as a leather dyeing material
Physical and Mechanical Properties of Sheepskin Pickled by Recycled Curing Salt
No full textCuring is the first process of skin treatment mainly using sodium chloride salt to prevent its decay. At soaking step of tannery, the effluents will be discharged to the environment, which contains the chloride ion, which will negatively affect our environment. Therefore, it should be either treated or reused so that it can help to reduce amount of chloride ion of the soaking effluent discharged to the environment and cost of pickling. This study focused on recycling of curing salt for sheepskin pickling and studying its effect on the pickled skin’s properties. Salt was recycled from cured skins manually, and it was purified through dilution, filtration, treatment, and drying. Five enzymatic bated sheepskins were collected from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The recipes were developed based on the weight of the pelt which was going to be pickled with 0.8% H2SO4, 0.5% formic acid, and 80% H2O for each trial and the recycled salt at different concentrations (8%, 8.5%, 6.5%, 7%, and 7.5%) for S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, respectively. Bromocresol green was the pH indicator. Then, properties of treated samples were measured and evaluated in line with ISO standards, and the pH of the recipe was checked. The results showed that S1 treated with the mentioned materials and 8% salt amount has highest tensile strength (80.3 N/mm2). In addition, S1 has also the maximum tear strength of 60 N/mm2 and the minimum was 45.69 N/mm2. On the contrary, S3 has shown the least values of tensile strength and elongations as well as least tear strength. S1 has the maximum shrinkage temprature of 107°C and S3 has that of the least value 89°C which is lower compared with the standard shrinkage temperature, 95°C. The pH values were found to be within the standard for pickling. The overall result of this study was promising
Characterization of Chemically Treated Sisal Fiber/Polyester Composites
No full textNatural fibers have the potential to replace synthetic fibers for making polymer composites due to their remarkable properties. Polyester is one of the core materiel used for textile and leather due to hydrophobic property. Sisal fibers have high strength among various naturals and can be used as the supporting material for polymers. A detailed experimental study was conducted for the extraction of sisal fiber and composite development. The fibers were treated by using 2%, 6%, and 10% NaOH concentrations within 24, 48, and 72 h soaking time. Composite was made from different sisal to polyester ratios of 20 : 80, 30 : 70, and 40 : 60 (w/w). Mechanical properties such as tensile strength and flexural strength of treated, untreated, and reinforced fibers were determined. Functional groups of both the treated and untreated sisal fibers were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal stability of sisal fiber was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The optimum tensile strength and bending strength of the composite were found at 44.0 MPa and 50.8 MPa for fiber with polyester ratio of 30 : 70, 6% NaOH concentration, and 48 h soaking time. It is confirmed that treated sisal fiber-reinforced polyester composites have better tensile and bending properties and lower water absorption than untreated fibers
Antibacterial property of synthetic upper leather treated by garlic and ginger peels extracts
No full text435-440The garlic and ginger peels have been thrown as a waste. Nowadays researchers have been trying to investigate the
antimicrobial properties of garlic and ginger peels extracts. Nevertheless, the effects of these materials on synthetic leather have
not been experimented. The study aims at antimicrobial treatment of synthetic leather by the peels extracts and examining it
against the staphylococcus epidermis bacterium. The peels have been collected in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia, dried in the oven for
one hour at 104°C, weighed and grounded in a grinder with a mesh size of 50-300 mesh. For both materials, 40 g of peel
powder has been dissolved in 400 mL of ethanol solvent and stirred by a magnetic stirrer and then extracted by ultrasonic
extraction method. Leather samples have been treated by extracted peels (5%, 15% and 20%) together with citric acid as a
binder and soap as wetting agent. The antimicrobial properties of the treated samples have been assessed by a disc diffusion test
method. The garlic peel extract at all concentrations levels has a wider inhibition zone indicating that garlic peel extract is more
efficient at inhibiting Staphylococcus epidermis growth than ginger peel. Therefore; it could be used as antimicrobial
treatment of synthetic leather
Investigating the Tannin Content and Phytochemical Composition of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in Lake Tana, Ethiopia
No full textNowadays water hyacinth coverage in Lake Tana is increasing day to day. Recently, considerable attention has been given to this plant to utilize and use as economical sources in many parts of the world. However, utilization of this plant is limited in Ethiopia. According to different findings, the tannin and other phytochemical contents of the water hyacinth vary from place to place where the plant grows up. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the tannin and other phytochemical constituents of the plant, in the case of Lake Tana, Ethiopia. The leaves and stem parts of the plant were extracted using distilled water, acetone, and ethanol solvents. The phytochemical, FTIR, and tannin content of the extracts were carried out following standard procedures. The phytochemical analysis revealed the existence of primary and secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, starch, and protein in the leaves and stems parts of the plant. The tannin content of water hyacinth leaves has higher tannin content as compared to that of the stem. During tannin content determination the total ash in % and pH value of leaf and stem tannins were determined. The pH of the leaf part was higher; however, the total ash content was lower than that of the stem. The FTIR spectrum data of the leaves and stems of the plant was recorded in the wavenumber range of 4000 and 500 cm−1. This revealed the presence of different functional groups in both leaf and stem parts of the plant. The phytochemicals found in the plant parts, including primary and secondary metabolites, could be used for medicinal and pharmaceutical applications as well as for textile and tanning industry wastewater treatment. Similarly, according to the findings of this study, water hyacinth leaves and stem parts have a tannin which will be used as an ideal agent for the tanning and retanning process in leather processing
Ethiopian Water Hyacinth Leaf Extract as a Potential Tannery Effluent Treatment Material
No full textIndustrial effluents have a serious problem on our ecosystem. Tannery effluent contains a huge amount of pollutant compounds such as toxic substances which need to be treated using either synthetic or natural products. The present study focussed on the treatment of tannery effluents using water hyacinth plant leaf extract. Though some researchers have tried to use this extract for the same, the researchers have experimented only to treat that of Cr3+ and there are a bit of difference in the methodology they followed. In addition, the scope of this research was wider. In this study, fresh raw WH leaves were collected from around Lake Tana, Ethiopia, cleaned and made to powder and then extraction was performed using different solvents. The solvent effects were examined using the ANOVA test. The tannery wastewater was treated with the extracts and parts of the effluents were kept as a control for comparison. Treated and untreated tannery effluents were compared using standard methods such as SLC 22, SLC 8, APHA 2540C, APHA 2540D, and Hack LCK 139 to determine Cr6+, Cr3+, TDS, TSS, and TKN, respectively. The highest amount of Cr6+, Cr3+, and TKN were removed at 30% water hyacinth leaves extracted by distilled water solvent and that of the least was found at hyacinth leaves extract by ethanol solvent but by acetone in BOD and COD treatment. In addition, though it was out of the permissible limit, by using the same amount of the material extracted by distilled water solvent some amounts of BOD and TDS were removed from the wastes compared to that of untreated tannery effluents. Generally, water hyacinth leaf extract is found effective material for the treatment of tannery effluents and can be used in the sector industries. Future studies may be required for setting the most optimum extract concentration for better results
Preparation of Sheepskin Unhairing Extracts from Locally Available Plants: Cleaner Leather Processing
No full textLeather is made from animal hides and skins that have passed through several stages of processing, from soaking to finishing. Unhairing is a crucial processing stage in which hair is removed from the animal hide or skin through open up the hair and it facilitates subsequent operations. The conventional sodium sulfide-based unhairing process generates a high volume of effluent, which accounts for 50 to 70% of the total biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) load in the tanneries’ effluent. This study aimed to investigate the potential of unhairing agents prepared from locally available plants. The research employed qualitative methods. Plant materials are collected, dried, and ground. In different proportions, unhairing extracts were obtained from Phytolacca dodecandra leaves, Cucurbita foetidissima fruits, and Solanum incanum fruits. In the conventional soaking process, plant extracts were applied in various concentrations to sheepskin. The physical parameters of conventionally processed (control) and experimentally treated leather were examined using FTIR, SEM, tear strength, percentage of elongation, and organoleptic tests. The unhairing solution was prepared from a mixture of 0.5% S. incanum extract, 0.5% P. dodecandra extract, 0.6% C. foetidissima extract, and 260 g/L lime powder lime, and this solution effectively removed the hair from the sheepskin in both hairs saving and hair burning unhairing process. The study revealed that the sheepskin treated with the plant extracts based on an unhairing agent and the conventional unhairing agent showed a comparable tensile strength (42.3 kg/cm and 45.2 kg/cm), tear strength (140.1 kg/cm2 and 143.5 kg/cm2), and percent elongation at break (40.2 and 42.3), respectively, which were above the permissible limit for leather production making. According to the study findings, the plant extracts have a good potential for removing hair from sheepskin, and they are eco-friendly and cost-effective compared to unhairing chemicals such as sodium sulfide
An Investigation of the Ethiopian Tanning Industry’s Competitiveness
Get PDFEthiopia’s leather development plan has prioritized the tanning industry in order to accelerate the sector’s growth. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that allow and prohibit Ethiopian tanning industries from coping with competitive challenges, as well as the competitive advantages and drawbacks that the tanning industry faces. The study followed a primary and secondary data collection methods, which included both qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the study, 13 functioning tanneries in the country involved in leather production from 2020 to 2021 were investigated. The study data were collected through distributing structured questionnaire and having interviews with tanning industry top management body (i.e. managers, directors, and heads). The study results are presented in forms of the mean and standard deviation. The study findings revealed that the tanning industry competitiveness is low due to different determinates factors. With the exception of the country’s natural resource endowment in hides and skins and low labor cost availability, all determinants of competitiveness (raw material, infrastructure, skilled labor, industry and institution linkage, capital and managerial capability, and government policy) are found to be insignificant. Similarly, the tanning industry’s ability to use its cost advantage in raw hides and skins and maintain its market share on the domestic and international market is limited by poor quality of locally supplied raw material, lack of strong supporting institutions and association’s, lack of infrastructure, capital and managerial capability, poor industry and institution linkage as well as factors such as scarcity of skilled labor and raw materials (chemicals and spare parts). In order to enhance the competitiveness of the tanning industry in the country, the industry, government and stakeholders need to work in collaboration in creating strong supporting industries, fulfilling infrastructure, providing investment capital, and supplying experienced managers and skilled workers
Antibacterial property of synthetic upper leather treated by garlic and ginger peels extracts
Get PDFThe garlic and ginger peels have been thrown as a waste. Nowadays researchers have been trying to investigate the antimicrobial properties of garlic and ginger peels extracts. Nevertheless, the effects of these materials on synthetic leather have not been experimented. The study aims at antimicrobial treatment of synthetic leather by the peels extracts and examining it against the staphylococcus epidermis bacterium. The peels have been collected in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia, dried in the oven for one hour at 104°C, weighed and grounded in a grinder with a mesh size of 50-300 mesh. For both materials, 40 g of peel powder has been dissolved in 400 mL of ethanol solvent and stirred by a magnetic stirrer and then extracted by ultrasonic extraction method. Leather samples have been treated by extracted peels (5%, 15% and 20%) together with citric acid as a binder and soap as wetting agent. The antimicrobial properties of the treated samples have been assessed by a disc diffusion test method. The garlic peel extract at all concentrations levels has a wider inhibition zone indicating that garlic peel extract is more efficient at inhibiting Staphylococcus epidermis growth than ginger peel. Therefore; it could be used as antimicrobial treatment of synthetic leather
