Additives in the Leather Industry

An overview of the leather sector from the point of view of additives use is presented. In the first section, the general trends of the sector under concern in terms of world production and trade flows are reviewed, together with an overall description of the main characteristics of the production process including beamhouse (i.e., salting, soaking, unhairing, liming, deliming, pickling), tanning, post-tanning (i.e., neutralization, bleaching, re-tanning, fatliquoring), and finishing operations. The second part is focused on the description of the different additive classes used to provide leather with the required functional characteristics and to facilitate and improve the production process as well, namely, fatliquoring agents, surfactants, coating agents (binders, lacquers), waterproofing agents, flame retardant agents, biocides, and dyes. Main compounds or compound families within each additive class are listed, and some related information regarding their function and environmental potential impacts is also included.