Abstract

Protection against development of putrefaction during suspension drying of hides during the West African wet season was investigated. Hides were dipped for 60mm in a saturated solution of sodium silicofluoride or boric acid or sprayed with a 10% solution of Vantocil lB immediately after flaying and fleshing. Both boric acid and silicofluoride treatments gave effective protection without adverse effect on leather-making qualities of the treated stock. The Vantocil spray treatment gave a significant improvement in preservation compared to untreated hides but was not as effective as the boric acid or silicofluoride dip treatments. At present the use of silicofluoride is promising as the most cost-effective treatment.