A Method for Removing Adobe-type Manure from Hides Using an Oxidizing Agent

Abstract

Adobe-type (hardened) manure attached to bovine hair is amajor source of meat contamination, hide quality deterioration,and devalued leather products. Therefore, it is important todevelop cleaning solutions that can rapidly remove adobe-typemanure to improve the quality of hides delivered to tanners forleather processing. Oxidative chemicals such as sodiumpercarbonate (SPC) have been used as an environmentallyfriendly alternative to dehair bovine hides in 1-4 hours. In thisstudy, we do not aim to dehair the hide with SPC, but to weakenand shorten the hair enough to remove the adobe-type manurefrom the hide in under 30 minutes. Our formula substantiallyremoved adobe-type manure in less than 30 minutes using acombination of SPC and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a soakingsolution in a tumbling drum. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)spectroscopy showed the oxidation of cystine disulfide bridgesin keratin, the structural protein of hair, indicating that ourformula weakened the hair after treatment. A decrease in hairdiameter, or hair shortening, was also observed with ScanningElectron Microscopy (SEM) analysis after treatment of the hideswith our formula. Our environmentally friendly formula foroxidatively removing adobe-type manure is a viable option toenhance both meat and hide quality.