Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND A METHOD FOR PREPARING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION FOR LEATHER PROCESSING

Applicant:
Tata International Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Industrial Area, Agra-Mumbai Road, Dewas - 455001,
Madhya Pradesh, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[001] The present application does not claim priority from any patent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The present disclosure in general relates to field of leather finishing and leather processing. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a chemical composition and a method for preparing the chemical composition for leather processing.
BACKGROUND
[003] Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from tanning or chemical treatment of animal skins and is further processed in many ways to prevent decay. Generally, leather tanning process requires basic chromium sulphate which contains chromium in trivalent form. Crafting operation of skin into leather require different steps like tanning, wet end operations which includes washing, neutralization, retanning, fatliquoring, dyeing, bleaching, acid fixing etc., followed by sammying, setting, crusting operations and finishing operations.
[004] In leather making process, a wide temperature range is required during many processing steps. Though the leather industry does not use Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) in a direct way, however, at the stage of leather crafting operations, there might be a case where Trivalent Chromium (Cr3+) may get converted into the Hexavalent chromium which is not preferred while processing leather.
[005] In leather making process, some oxidation reduction reaction step may be required. Some chemicals which makes leather soft and flexible called fatliquors also contains oxidizing chemicals, thus there are chances of conversion of available chromium which is trivalent chromium (Cr3+) into Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) which is a banned chemical in leather industry.
[006] The existing techniques are used to reduce hexavalent chromium to chromous (Cr2+) and chromic (Cr3+) forms in presence of water under alkaline conditions and fixing the reduced chromium forms with phosphate. Further, there are process for stabilizing chromium in the leather which was mostly consisted of the reducers and chelating agents. Furthermore, the existing processes comprises mixing a reducible metal with one or more elemental metals and a chemical reducing agent to effect the reduction of the reducible metals. However, such processes are not safe for environment.
[007] The Hexavalent chromium is considered as harmful for plant and human beings and is known to be a carcinogen. As per the leather industry standard compliance, permissible limit for Cr6+ in finished leather should be below 3 ppm, and few products may even require the Cr6+ to be limited to 1 ppm. However, due to with current conventional processes and limitations associated with the processes, it is still difficult to achieve industry standards of Cr6+ limit.
[008] Thus, non-compliance of Cr6+ limit may lead to failure in manufacturing and producing certified leather products which may further lead to monetary loss during product testing phase.
SUMMARY
[009] Before the present a chemical composition and a method for preparing the chemical composition for processing leather is described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular composition, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0010] In one implementation, a chemical composition is disclosed. The chemical composition comprises a chemical combination of reducing agent as one of the component selected in a predefined quantity, a chelating agent selected as another component in a predefined quantity and a stabilizer selected in a predefined quantity as component. Each of the reducing agent, the chelating agent and the stabilizer are selected in a predefined ratio in the chemical composition. The chemical composition is used as Cr6+ inhibitor.
[0011] In another implementation, disclosed is a method for preparing the chemical composition called Cr6+ inhibitor for application in leather processing, textile, chrome plating etc. The method for preparing said chemical composition comprises of mixing and stirring each of a reducing agent selected in a predefined quantity, a chelating agent selected in a predefined quantity; and a stabilizer selected in a predefined quantity for obtaining a chemical combination. Each of the reducing agent, the chelating agent and the stabilizer are selected in a predefined ratio in the composition. The chemical combination is then filtered for obtaining the composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.
[0013] Figure 1 illustrates a flow diagram for a method for preparing a chemical composition for processing leather, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0014] Figure 2 illustrates a known method for forming existing inhibitors and exemplary method for preparing a chemical composition for processing leather, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Some embodiments of the present disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. Herein, the conjunction “or” is not intended to be exclusive unless otherwise noted. For example, the phrase “or alternatively” is intended to be exclusive. Further, when used in connection with chemical substitution at a specific position, the conjunction “or” is intended to be exclusive. As used herein, the adjective “exemplary” is used simply to point to an example and is not meant to indicate preference. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0016] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure for preparing the chemical composition for processing leather is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[0017] In the leather crafting operations there is chance of conversion of Trivalent Chromium into Hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium is harmful for plant and human beings and is considered as carcinogen. As per the leather industry standard compliance, permissible limit for Cr6+ in finished leather should be below 3 ppm. also, few products also require Cr6+ to be limited to 1 ppm. However, due to some conventional process limitations, it becomes difficult to achieve industry standards of Cr6+ limit.
[0018] The present subject matter overcomes the above-mentioned problem of leather crafting process. In order to address the above challenges, the present subject matter develops a chemical composition and a method for preparing the composition.
[0019] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0020] Referring now to Figure 1, a flow diagram illustrating a method (100) for preparing a chemical composition (also referred Cr6+ inhibitor) for application in leather processing, textile, chrome plating etc.
[0021] At step 102: The method (100) provides mixing and stirring each of a reducing agent selected in a predefined quantity, a chelating agent selected in a predefined quantity; and a stabilizer selected in a predefined quantity for obtaining a chemical combination. Each of the reducing agent, the chelating agent and the stabilizer are selected in a predefined ratio in the composition.
[0022] At step 104: The method (100) provides addition of powdered chemical, the powdered chemicals are a predefined quantity of ascorbic acid (powder) and predefined quantity of EDTA (solid), in water with stirring followed by addition of Collagen hydrolyzate (Liquid).
[0023] At step 106: The method (100) provides filtering of the chemical combination for obtaining the composition.
[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the method (100) may be executed to facilitate application of the chemical composition during finishing process of leather manufacturing.
[0025] In another embodiment, the chemical composition comprising the chemical combination of the reducing agent as one of the component selected in the predefined quantity, the chelating agent selected as another component in the predefined quantity; and the stabilizer selected in the predefined quantity as component, herein each of the reducing agent, the chelating agent and the stabilizer are selected in the predefined ratio in the composition. The predefined ratio is selected from one of (4:1:1), (4:1.5:1.0) or (8:1.2:1).
[0026] In another exemplary embodiment, the reducing agent is selected from one of the organic acid such as Ascorbic, or Citric acid. The chelating agent is selected as disodium salt of organic acid (EDTA Molecular formula C10H14N2Na2O8). The stabilizer is selected from protein (collagen) hydrolysate.
[0027] In another exemplary embodiment the reducing agent is an organic acid namely Ascorbic acid manufactured by HEILONGGIAMG NHU Biotechnology company was used, the chelating agent is the disodium salt of EDTA (C10H14N2Na2O8.2H2O) of Lab grade from RANKLEM is used. For stabilization, the collagen hydrolysate is used which is prepared from collagen shavings and collagen trimmings.
[0028] In another exemplary embodiment, the chemical composition is used during a drumming process of leather manufacturing and the chemical composition may use by spraying on a finished leather product. Now referring to the Figure 2, a known method (200) of forming existing inhibitors and exemplary method (202) for preparing a chemical composition for processing leather is illustrated. In the known method (200) of forming existing inhibitors, the reducing agents such as BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) and BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) are used along with protein filler, glucose, sorbitol and other chemicals to inhibit the Cr6+ formation. However, the known process is not highly efficient to inhibit the Cr6+ formation. The reducing agents may be water soluble.
[0029] Further, exemplary method (202) for preparing a chemical composition for processing leather, the chemical combination to prepare the chemical composition (herein also referred as irreversible complex) comprises, complexing agent to make stable complex by forming strong bond with chromium ion, ascorbic acid for reduction of the formation of Cr6+ by converting Cr6+ to Cr3+, protein filler for stabilization of the Cr6+ deformation. The irreversible complex is used as dosage optimization and leather making recipe modification at appropriate place of addition. It is observed that the use of chemical composition in the process is highly efficient to inhibit the Cr6+ formation.
[0030] In another exemplary embodiment, by using the composition, the leather industry for sustainable leather production, consumer who use leather products, leather manufacturing units and chrome plating units may get benefits. The use of the chemical composition demonstrated irreversible process of the Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) to Trivalent Chromium (Cr3+) during the leather processing.
[0031] In another exemplary embodiment, the chemical composition is useful in the effluent and sludge of chrome plating industry, leather effluent and sludge and effluent treatment plants Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs).
[0032] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, the advantages may include those provided by the following features.
[0033] Some embodiments of the present subject matter provide an effective finishing chemical composition through the proposed composition.
[0034] Some embodiments of the present subject matter may provide the finishing chemical composition with reduced cost of production and cost to develop, due to simplicity in the process of preparing the composition.
[0035] The chemical composition and method suppress the toxicity of the Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) during the leather processing.
[0036] The chemical composition provides an enhanced characteristic and improved quality of leather after finishing with the proposed composition.
[0037] The chemical composition ensures Cr6+ inhibition under latest testing conditions or requirement.
[0038] Although an exemplary embodiment of the present embodiment has been described in detail, the scope of the present embodiment is not limited thereto but various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present embodiment defined in the appended claims also pertain to the scope of the present embodiment.
, Claims:
1. A chemical composition comprising,
a chemical combination comprising reducing agent as one of the component selected in a predefined quantity,
a chelating agent selected as another component in a predefined quantity; and
a stabilizer selected in a predefined quantity as component, wherein each of the reducing agent, the chelating agent and the stabilizer are selected in a predefined ratio in the composition.

2. The chemical composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined ratio is selected from one of (4:1:1), (4:1.5:1.0) or (8:1.2:1).

3. The chemical composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reducing agent is selected from one of the organic (Ascorbic, Citric) acid.

4. The chemical composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chelating agent is selected as disodium salt of organic acid (EDTA Molecular formula C10H14N2Na2O8).

5. The chemical composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stabilizer is selected from protein (collagen) hydrolyzate.

6. A method (100) for preparing a chemical composition for application in leather processing the method comprising of:
mixing and stirring (102) each of a reducing agent selected in a predefined quantity, a chelating agent selected in a predefined quantity; and a stabilizer selected in a predefined quantity for obtaining a chemical combination, wherein each of the reducing agent, the chelating agent and the stabilizer are selected in a predefined ratio in the composition;
adding and stirring (104) the powder chemical in water with stirring, followed by addition of collagen hydrolysate (Liquid); and
filtering (106), the chemical combination for obtaining the composition.