New concept for wet-blue process from Rhodiaeco

RhodiaEco WB is a new product from Rhodia with the collaboration of Neochimica Italia. It resolves many of the problems inherent in the tanning process, simplifying it and improving performance. In traditional wet-blue tanning, the hides are usually acidified to pH2.5-3 by using strong acids to allow the chrome salt to penetrate because only at this low level of pH are the terminal carboxyl groups of the protein not ionised. At a high pH, the reactivity of the chromium with the ionised carboxyl end groups is high and the chrome salts precipitate, not penetrating the leather and causing stains. The main characteristic of RhodiaEco WB is that it allows the chrome salts to penetrate and fix in high pH conditions without stains or penetration problems. Also, since the chrome salts fix automatically, there is no need for the basification process and the final pH is 3.8-4.0. Thus, RhodiaEco WB, an hydroxylated b-carbonylic product, allows the chromium salt to penetrate and fix to the hide when the pH is above 4.2. The benefits of RhodiaEco WB are: * finer grain * better opening of the grain, more fullness and uniform colour * absence of chrome stains * increased chemical-physical resistances * higher fixation of chrome in the leather * higher exhaustion of chrome in the tanning float * reduction in time * complete elimination of sulfuric acid from the process * reduction of salt in the pickle * drastic reduction of sulfates in the tanning float * it fixes a higher percentage of the chrome * elimination of the basification process * pH stable * safe wet-blue stock for long storage periods