Project Number: 1935-41440-019-01
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 01, 2011
End Date: Mar 31, 2012

Objective:
To analyze the decorin content of the BCD materials so that the physical properties or quality of leather products, obtained by utilizing waterless tanning process, can be correlated to its residual amount. This research project will support the AIICA objectives in trying to solve the problem of excessive pollution due to enormous waste water disposal from the effluents of the hides and tanning industry.

Approach:
BCD is a material based on dehydrated collagen and waterless procedure from hides and skins that the AIICA scientists have developed in Igualada, Spain. ARS researchers will perform decorin assay by adapting the developed Alcian Blue colorimetric assay technique on the BCD samples. The Alcian Blue colorimetric assay of the SGAG or sulfated glycosaminoglycan tail of the decorin molecule will be employed. This will allow correlation of the decorin content with the physical properties or quality of finished leather from the BCD materials compared to the leather product obtained by employing the standard tanning procedure. The ARS scientists have established that further removal of decorin resulted in improvement in leather quality.