Application and valorization of novel indigenous leaf in leather processing.

This study investigated the viability of locally available organic sources of leaf as vegetable tannin agent in leather processing to promote green leather manufacturing. Leather tanned with leaf powder (NPT), extract (NET) and conventional vegetable tanned leather (CVT) was characterized with FTIR, DLS, HPLC, DSC, TGA, and SEM. Total soluble solid, pH, tannin content, and tanning strength of leaf extract were found to be 24 %, 4.81, 12.34 % and 1.81 respectively. Moisture content, fat content, and water-soluble content of leaf extract tanned leather (NET) were 12.26 %, 10.8 % and 7.2 % respectively. The shrinkage temperature, tensile strength, stitch tear strength, grain crack load, and finished film bond strength of NET leather were 86 °C, 282.52 kg/cm, 139.53 kg/cm, 24 kg, and 414 g/cm respectively. NET leather exhibited better anti-microbial sensitivity against , , and than NPT and NET leather. Overall, the experimental results of this study indicate the leaf could serve as a prime renewable tanning agent, substituting hazardous chromium and imported conventional vegetable tannin chemicals in leather manufacturing. Thus, developed leaf tannin material from plant sources could provide sustainable leather production, contributing to eco-friendly and viable green leather processing options.