Abstract

The use of boric acid for temporary preservation of hides has been investigated. Cuttings, soaked for 15 min in saturated boric acid solution, were stored for five days at 30°C before attaining a volatile to total nitrogen ratio of 1%. Untreated cuttings attained this value in two days. In a laboratory experiment a boric acid bath was used 50 times without losing effectiveness. In a pilot scale experiment nine batches of hides, totaling 3100 kg, were soaked and stored for up to 29 days at 14°C. Leather from the boric acid treated, green and wet salted hides did not differ significantly in appearance or physical properties.