Evaluation of some finished leather biodegradability by tests based on microbial activity

The increase in waste load and the deterioration of natural balance in today's developing world of low sustainability production and consumption models constitute the basis of global problems and make it difficult for our country to preserve our natural beauties. Easier approaches are applied in the protection of the natural environment and production of less harmful products is of great importance. In addition to the testing of leathers with different tanning techniques, which tanning technique is used will produce more durable, longer-lasting products that are broken down in the appropriate time period in nature. In this study, it is aimed to determine the biodegradability of manufactured leathers by methods based on microbial activity, to make comparative analyzes and to develop a more suitable biodegradability test standard with international popularity. Menemen organized industrial zone tanned with chrome, vegetable (mimosa) tanned, aluminum tanned and raw leather samples were studied. DHA (dehydrogenase activity), FDA (fluorescein di acetate activity), respiration measurement (determination of CO2 content) were performed weekly and daily. The highest values were found to be 8.4 µg TPF / ml for chromium tanned leather sample in DHA method, 3.8 µg fluorescein / ml for chromium tanned leather sample in FDA method, and the measured value was 1,37 g/h CO2 and the last day was 30,16 g/h CO2 for the measurement of respiration. It is concluded that the most rapidly biodegredable sample is raw leather.