Output details
12 - Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering
University of Northampton
The mechanism of chrome tanning.
Since the introduction of chromium(III) tanning at least 100 years ago, perhaps 90% of the world’s production has been based on that chemistry. During that time, most of the aspects of the reaction have been misunderstood or even wrongly assumed and accepted. This paper addresses all the wrong thinking and sets out the arguments for what is true. Using information from the literature and applying modern analytical techniques, the principles of the tanning reaction with chromium(III) salts are presented in a way that allows the industry to review their processes. In this way, operations can be made more effective, economic and with minimum adverse ecological impact.