Abstract

Previously fungal attack in the leather industry has been prevented by using pentachiorophenol, but its use is no longer acceptable due to the possibility of the formation of chlorinated dibenzodioxine a poisonous compound. 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)-benzothiazole (TCMTB), which is a currently used replacement is insoluble in water, and therefore has to be applied as an emulsion to wet blue leather. This paper reports on the synthesis and formulation of TCMTB. The synthesis of TCMTB is charac tensed by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and by mass spectrometry.