Sustainable use of 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride as metal free tanning agent

Leather manufacturing is water, energy and waste intensive and requires integrated prevention and control of pollution. Tannery effluents, if not properly treated, may cause significant damage to soil and water bodies thus, tanners are looking for more environmentally sustainable technologies. In this concern, a process has been designed employing a new tanning agent allowing to produce totally metal-, formaldehyde- and phenol-free non-toxic leather. The agent tested is 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride (DMTMM), which appears to be a very efficient tanning agent producing hides with shrinkage temperatures as high as Ts = 87 °C. Environmental and economic benefits arising from the use of DMTMM are discussed.