Assessment of Coffee Pulp as a Potential Source of Tannins for Leather Processing

Abstract

The leather industry is experiencing environmental challenges due to pollution associated with chromium tanning. Vegetable tanning is considered as an ecofriendly alternative method. Previous research studies have established that coffee contains 1-10% of tannins. In this study coffee arabica pulp was determined for its tannin content and tanning strength for potential use as a source of tanning material. The hide powder method was used and the tannin content of coffee arabica pulp determined as 5.04% with the tanning strength of 2.26 compared to mimosa which had a tannin content of 63.56% with a tanning strength of 2.82. Both coffee arabica pulp and mimosa exceeded the 1.5 tanning strength recommended for tanning agents. It was concluded that coffee arabica pulp sufficient tanning strength to be used as a tanning material.