Aplicación de diferentes niveles de glutaraldehído con Caesalpinia spinosa (tara) en la curtición de pieles ovinas para napalán.

Abstract

In Ecuador, ovine animal hides processing for tanning requires improvement and optimization to ensure comprehensive utilization. However, tanning process has become complicated due to the lack of specific techniques and knowledge to these types of hides. Consequently, this research aims to enhance tanning process for ovine hides by employing different concentrations of glutaraldehyde at 4%, 5%, and 6%, combined with 6% tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) to get Napalán. The physical and sensory analyses were essential to evaluate the Napalan quality. The physical analysis involved tensile strength testing, elongation percentage determination, lastometry, and abrasion resistance evaluation, while sensory analysis focused on softness, fineness of the nap, and fiber quality assessed by a trained panel. Analysis of variance and mean separation according to Tukey's test at significance levels of (p<0.05) were the basis for the statistical analysis of the experimental results. The 6% glutaraldehyde concentration demonstrated higher tensile strength of 4936.06 N/cm², elongation percentage of 80.58%, lastometry of 11.51 mm, and abrasion resistance of 219.78 cycles. In the sensory analysis case, the 4% glutaraldehyde concentration received better ratings for fiber fineness and softness, achieving 5/5 points, while the 6% concentration had a higher acceptance rate for nap fineness. The economic analysis using the cost-benefit ratio reported the most favorable outcome to the 6% glutaraldehyde concentration at $1.96, proving it is economically viable. Furthermore, the 4% and 5% glutaraldehyde concentrations also showed profitability, with values exceeding 1. These findings demonstrate that alternative techniques for tanning ovine hides are possible, thereby contributing to the leather industry, enhancing ovine hide use, processing, and generating economic benefits.