Recycling of finished leather wastes: a novel approach

Preparation of leather like material, i.e., regenerated leather (RGL) from finished leather wastes is economical and helps in reducing environmental pollution. Incorporating plant fibers (PFs) into RGL enhances its mechanical properties. Plant fibers are exploited as reinforcement materials owing to their low cost, fairly good mechanical properties, high specific strength, non-abrasive, eco-friendly and bio-degradability characteristics. Fiberized leather wastes and PFs were mixed in various proportions to prepare regenerated leather composites (RLCs). Plant fibers viz., coconut, sugarcane, banana and corn silk were used for the study. RGL and RLCs were characterized physicochemically using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Results clearly portrayed that PFs significantly improved the mechanical and thermal properties of RLCs. Among the composites, RLC prepared using leather waste and coconut fiber (50:40 ratio) proved to be a better composite with potent properties. RLCs are promising for the preparation of leather goods and footwear materials in addition to its cost-effectiveness and environmental pollution abatement.