Abstract

A chromium-zirconium basic sulphate complex was isolated with high yield in 1969. The compound reacts rapidly with collagen to produce shrinkage temperatures in excess of 100°C. The increase in shrinkage temperature is due to reaction with the collagen carboxyl groups. The relatively high cost and uptakes have precluded its use as a practical tanning agent, but the unique complex indicates a great potential for studying collagen-transition metal interactions. This paper reviews previous work and presents some further results from work performed in the Procter Department from 1970-1973 and not published elsewhere.