Efficient and ecological leather processing: replacement of lime and sulphide with dispase assisted by 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

Leather is a collagen-based biomass prepared from raw skins or hides by a series of unit operations, in which the unhairing and fiber opening are extremely important operations. However, the conventional Na2S/Ca(OH)2 system used in unhairing and fiber opening has given rise to the pollution to the environment. It is necessary to develop substitute technology for the Na2S/Ca(OH)2. In the present study, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([AMIm]Cl) was used to cooperate with dispase for cycle unhairing and one-pot beamhouse to recycle waste bovine hides and compared with conventional processing. During those processes, the mechanism of [AMIm]Cl-dispase synergistic unhairing and collagen fibers opening were studied. Besides, plant hazard, organic matter and [AMIm]Cl of wastewater from [AMIm]Cl-dispase process were respectively investigated and separated to evaluate the environmental and economic benefits of the [AMIm]Cl-dispase process. As a result, enzyme activity after unhairing by [AMIm]Cl-diapase system for using 5 times is higher than that by KCl-dispase system, and needs lower unhairing time, which is because of rapid penetration of [AMIm]Cl-dispase solution in bovine hides. For this reason, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of tanned leather from [AMIm]Cl-dispase process are higher than those from the KCl-diapase and conventional processes, and its hydrothermal shrinkage temperature is comparable to that of the conventional one. Because of the 58.13% lower wastewater discharge (WD), 66.60% lower total solids (TS), 97.23% lower ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), non-toxic wastewater and organic matter recovery in wastewater are reached from [AMIm]Cl-dispase process, which is expected to be an alternative to the conventional process to reduce environmental pollution and realize the sustainable development of technology for leather manufacturing.

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Insights into protein-ionic liquid interaction: A comprehensive overview on theoretical and experimental approaches

Owing to highly tunable nature, ionic liquids are nesting stance in the scientific community for a wide variety of applications ranging from electrochemistry to product purification, from chemical and biomedical applications to biotechnological interventions and proteomics. Proteins are unstable in its native form and several attempts have been made to stabilize them by addition of various additives. This review focusses on the studies conducted to improve protein stability with ionic liquids along with an emphasis on the mechanism of interaction. This review also specifies and discusses about the brief introduction to ionic liquids, evolution of first-, second-, and third generation of liquids over the years and their selection criterion and applications. Though, there are several elegant reviews available on proteins-ionic liquids interaction, this review systematically highlights the effect of ionic liquids viz., imidazolium, ammonium, phosphonium and choline-based ionic liquids (amino acid-based anions & classical anions) on fibrous proteins viz., collagen and keratin and globular proteins viz., bovine serum albumin and cytochrome c. Thus, this review elaborates the thorough investigations conducted to explore the stabilizing properties of ionic liquids over fibrous and globular proteins.

Current trends in leather science

Abstract

In preparing the second edition of ‘Tanning Chemistry. The Science of Leather.’, the literature was updated and the content was revised and reviewed. Here, the new findings are presented and discussed.

Notable developments include the necessary rethinking of the mechanism of sulfide unhairing because of new understanding of the aqueous chemistry of sulfide species. Revision upwards of the value of the second pKa for sulfide species ionisation means that S2−cannot exist in an aqueous medium, so the unhairing species in hair burn reactions is HS−. Although the technology remains the same, this means the mechanisms of associated reactions such as immunisation must be revised.

Rawstock preservation has benefitted from studies of the potential role of materials from plants which accumulate salt, but which also contribute terpene compounds. There is also further discussion on the continuing issue of chromium (VI) in the leather industry.

The application to processing of new solvents, ionic liquids and deep eutectics, is the coming technology, which offers transforming options for new chemistries and products. Renewed interest in vegetable tanning and methods of wet white processing are current trends. Also, within the topic of reagent delivery is processing in a solid medium of plastic beads.

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Factors affecting thermal stability of collagen from the aspects of extraction, processing and modification

Abstract

Collagen, as a thermal-sensitive protein, is the most abundant structural protein in animals. Native collagen has been widely applied in various fields due to its specific physicochemical and biological properties. The beneficial properties would disappear with the collapse of the unique triple helical structure during heating. Understanding thermal stability of collagen is of great significance for practical applications. Previous studies have shown the thermal stability would be affected by the different sources, extraction methods, solvent systems in vitro and modified methods. Accordingly, the factors affecting thermal stability of collagen are discussed in detail in this review.

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Stability of collagen in ionic liquids: Ion specific Hofmeister series effect

In protein-ionic liquids (ILs) interactions, anions play an important role. In this work, imidazolium-based ILs (IILs) with varying anions namely dicyanamide (DCA), hydrogen sulfate (HS), dimethyl phosphate (DP), acetate (A), sulfate (S) and dihydrogen phosphate (DHP) have been chosen with the aim of understanding the role of anions in bringing about the destabilization effect on collagen based on the kosmotropicity and chaotropicity of ions. Imidazolium-based ILs destabilized the triple helical structure of collagen, thereby proving as strong denaturants for collagen and this was confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques viz., CD, FT-IR, viscosity and impedance measurements. The solution studies were in accordance to the changes in the dimensional stability of RTT collagen fibres at the fibrillar level. Imidazolium cations with varied anions have exhibited destabilizing effect on collagen in order of ions in Hofmeister series; IDP < IDHP < IA < IDCA < IS < IHS. Presumably, these notable effect and changes were facilitated by electrostatic interactions between the anions and amine functional groups of collagen.

Choline-Based Amino Acid ILs-Collagen Interaction: Enunciating Its Role in Stabilization/Destabilization Phenomena

Given the potential of productive interaction between choline-based amino acid ionic liquids (CAAILs) and collagen, we investigated the role of four CAAILs, viz., choline serinate, threoninate, lysinate, and phenylalaninate, and the changes mediated by them in the structure of collagen at different hierarchical orderings, that is, at molecular and fibrillar levels. The rheological, dielectric behavior and the secondary structural changes signify the alteration in the triple helical structure of collagen at higher concentrations of CAAILs. A marginal swelling and slight decrease in the thermal stability of rat tail tendon collagen fibers were observed for choline serinate and threoninate, albeit distortions in banding patterns were noticed for choline lysinate and phenylalaninate, suggesting chaotropicity of the ions at the fibrillar level. This signifies the changes in the hydrogen-bonding environment of collagen with increasing concentrations of CAAILs, which could be due to competitive hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl group of amino acid ionic liquids and the hydroxyl groups of collagen.

Inexpensive α-amylase production and application for fiber splitting in leather processing

Recently, the production of superior quality enzymes using waste sources has promoted greater research interest due to their enhanced enzyme activity, selectivity and stability.

Electrostatic Forces Mediated by Choline Dihydrogen Phosphate Stabilize Collagen

Cross-linkers aid in improving biostability of collagen via different mechanisms. Choline dihydrogen phosphate (cDHP), a biocompatible ionic liquid, has been reported as a potential cross-linker for collagen. However, its mechanism is yet unclear. This study explores the effect of cDHP on the physicochemical stability of collagen and nature of its interaction. Dielectric behavior of collagen-cDHP composites signifies that cDHP enhances intermolecular forces. This was demonstrated by an increase in cross-linked groups and high denaturation temperature of collagen-cDHP composites. XRD measurements reveal minor conformational change in helices. Molecular modeling studies illustrate that the force existing between collagen and cDHP is electrostatic in nature. Herein, it is postulated that dihydrogen phosphate anion attaches to cationic functional groups of collagen, resulting in closer vicinity of various side chains of collagen, forming physical and chemical cross-links within collagen, contributing to its structural stability. Our study suggests that dihydrogen phosphate anions can be employed for developing a new class of biocompatible cross-linkers.