Abstract

Recent work on proteins, and especially on collagen, is surveyed and its relevance to the future of the leather industry is examined in several aspects.

The poor content of nutritionally essential amino acids in collagen is thought to preclude the utilisation of collageneous waste as a source of high grade food protein. Synthetic poly-tripeptides are still far from reproducing the most important properties of collagen, and still less those of skin. Our understanding of collagen structure has increased immensely, but has not yet led to a deeper understanding of the various tanning processes. Substantial researches into producing and handling the partial
breakdown products of skin—the solubilised collagens—are likely to be exploited to give new and important uses for collagen, preferably in conjunction with a more rational use of hides.