Preservation of the raw hide

Any delay before preservation increases the risk of bacterial damage especially to the sensitive grain layer. Due to special prescriptions for slaughter houses bactericides are not normally used. 

Short term preservation of the soak by bactericides may be necessary to avoid damages of the hide and later on of the leather. Requirements on the bactericides differ from those on fungicides. Bactericides need to be effective in a neutral to weak alkaline medium only for a short period of time (1-2 days). They must not have an adverse effect on the hide or the activated sludge in effluent treatment plants. 

One of the most frequently used active agents, normally applied at an addition rate of 0,03-0,1% on hide weight is didecyldimethylammonium-chloride [II, 18.1.4.], a quaternary ammonium salt which effects rapidly, is of low toxicity and bio-degradable. 

Other microbicides the activity spectrum of which covers not only bacteria, but especially fungi, too, are used as well for soak preservation. Examples are  

N-hydroxymethyl-N-methyldithiocarbamate [II, 3.4.11.] tetrahydro-3,5-dimethyl-2H-l,3,5-thiadiazine-2-thione [II, 3.3.25.] and 2-thiocyanomethylthiobenzothiazole (TCMTB) [II, 15.11.] 

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