Abstract

A retanning agent was synthesized from chrome-shaving hydrolysate modified with vinyl monomers. The chrome-shavings were hydrolyzed without de-chroming and were then modified by grafting with vinyl monomers. To provide proof of grafting, the modified hydrolysate was identified by indanthrone, and infrared spectroscopy (IR) The amino acid composition of the hydrolysate and modified hydrolysate were analysed. The results show that the vinyl polymer had been grafted on the polypeptide chains of the hydrolysate with covalent bonds. This protein retanning agent containing chrome was beneficial to the utilization of chrome shavings. Good stretch and filling properties were obtained from leather retanned with this agent.