Preservation of semi-processed leather

Fungi prefer an environment of weak acid to neutral pH. To provide them with ideal growth eonditions substrates need to contain 12 15% water only. The optimum temperature is about 25°C. To protect partially 

The most important and best known fungicides for use in the leather industry are (Lindner, 1998)  

The choice of a fungicide type is influenced by a number of factors. Some of them are highly hydrophobic and therefore are adsorbed rapidly by the hide on contact. The uptake and distribution can be uneven and may influence the level of protection of hides within a batch. The addition of the products under practical conditions should be done after 1 10 or 1 20 dilution into the rotating drum to make sure an even distribution in the float. 

The fungicide dosage should be added in several rates. Those hides at the side of the drum at which the fungicide is added are more likely to receive a higher dose of the fungicide than those at the opposite side of the vessel (Stosic et al., 1993). 

The distribution of fungicides in the cross section of a leather between grain, middle and flesh layer is not equal. In general the grain split contains 60-70%, the middle 10 20% and the flesh split 25 30% of the absorbed fungicide (Hauber and Germann, 1996 Hauber and Germann, 1997). 

---