Preparation of aluminium sulphate from kaolin and its performance in combination tanning

Leather making commonly use chromium salts to produce high quality products. However, the use of chromium salts is compromised by environmental safety concerns. Combination tanning using vegetable tanning coupled with aluminium sulphate can sustainably replace chrome tanning system. Adversely, the use of commercial aluminium sulphate poses economic burden that entails for cost effective sources. Abundance of kaolin on earth's crust with scarce utilization is an opportunity towards cost effective aluminium sulphate for tanning. Therefore, in the present work aluminium sulphate was prepared from kaolin and its performance for combination tanning was studied. Diffraction and vibrational spectroscopic studies were carried out to confirm the prepared aluminium sulphate. Combination tanning was carried out with mimosa vegetable tannins. Leathers tanned with the combination of aluminium sulphate from kaolin and mimosa vegetable tannin exhibited hydrothermal stability of up to 118 degrees C as compared to mimosa alone that showed the average of 80 degrees C. Physical strength characteristics met the standard norms. Fibers separation was good as confirmed through microscopic studies. The study provides a new insight on accomplishing self-sustenance through available resources and eco-friendly manufacturing system.