DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v25i5.175

Keywords: Formaldehyde; chestnut; additive

Abstract

Limitation of formaldehyde emission in glutaraldehyde tanned leather is an important matter to be noticed. According to the reason that glutaraldehyde can be decomposed under several conditions and produce carcinogenic formaldehyde. Global regulations set the permission level of formaldehyde in the leather to only 20-300 ppm (depending on the leather article). The use of bio scavenger is an alternative for reducing formaldehyde in the skin. This research used chestnuts as formaldehyde bio scavengers. Variations chestnut levels to be applied are 1, 3, and 5%. The skin without the addition of chestnuts was prepared as a control. Based on the results obtained, there was a decrease in formaldehyde levels in the leather after the addition of chestnuts. The optimal level of chestnuts needed to reduce formaldehyde levels in glutaraldehyde tanned leather is 5%. The use of chestnuts can be an alternative additive in the production of glutaraldehyde tanned leather which is more environmentally friendly, due to reduction of the potential formaldehyde release.