A guide to high-efficiency chromium (III)-collagen cross-linking: Synchrotron SAXS and DSC study

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.12.187

Authors: Yi Zhang (Leather and Shoe Research Association of New Zealand) , Tim Snow (Diamond Light Source) , Andrew J. Smith (Diamond Light Source) , Geoff Holmes (Leather and Shoe Research Association of New Zealand) , Sujay Prabakar (Leather and Shoe Research Association of New Zealand)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: International Journal Of Biological Macromolecules , VOL 126 , PAGES 123-129

State: Published (Approved)
Published: December 2018
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 18388

Abstract: The inefficiency of the chromium (III)-collagen cross-linking reaction during conventional leather processing results in severe environmental pollution from the waste chromium in the effluent. A mechanistic study using synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) on ThruBlu tanned leather, revealed the effect of chromium sulphate and its pre-treatments on collagen structure and stability. By pre-treating with complexing agents such as sodium formate and disodium phthalate, as well as nanoclay (sodium montmorillonite), the uniformity through bovine hide collagen matrix were improved significantly. These pre-treatments effectively reduce the reactivity of chromium during its cross-linking reaction with collagen while retaining its bound water. However, collagen pre-treated with a covalent cross-linker (glutaraldehyde) results in a decrease in both chromium-collagen cross-linking and bound water while improving uniformity. These molecular-level insights can be developed into metrics to guide us towards a more sustainable future for the leather industry.

Journal Keywords: Collagen structure Cross-linking Hydration Chrome tanning Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Chemistry, Environment


Instruments: I22-Small angle scattering & Diffraction

Added On: 29/12/2018 20:44

Discipline Tags:

Desertification & Pollution Earth Sciences & Environment Biomaterials Soft condensed matter physics Materials Science Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Scattering Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)