Products of enzymatic decomposition of chrome-tanned leather waste

Together with the British Leather Centre Northampton we have been solving t he problem of processing tanned waste from tanneries. We have discovered th at above all else their enzymatic decomposition is interesting thanks to it s low requirements of energy as well as easy and almost perfect separation of Cr3+ compounds from the protein hydrolysate. The use of the resulting pr otein hydrolysate as a secondary chemical raw material can, in practice, fa vourably influence the economy of the process. That is why it is necessary to investigate the basic characteristics of this process. Apart from presenting the basic characteristics (solids, ash, nitrogen cont ent), the submitted study evaluates the contents of primary amino groups, w hich represent the main centre of interaction of the hydrolysate, as well a s the average molecular weight of the hydrolysates, and assesses the influe nce of reaction time on this characteristic. Individual components of the h ydrolysate have been separated through acrylamide gel electrophoresis. We h ave also determined the concentration dependence of the surface tension of aqueous solutions of the hydrolysates. Furthermore we have conducted a basi c analysis of the solid phase of the reaction mixture, which consists mainl y of inorganic fractions including Cr3+ compounds.