Resumo

VELASQUEZ-CCOSI, Percy Fermín et al. Obtaining Bio-leather from Bacterial Cellulose by Mineral and Vegetable Tanning. Rev Politéc. (Quito) [online]. 2025, vol.56, n.2, pp.37-48. ISSN 2477-8990.  https://doi.org/10.33333/rp.vol56n2.04.

The conventional production of leather poses environmental risks due to the use of chromium. This study therefore aimed to obtain alternative materials with a similar appearance to conventional leather from bacterial cellulose (BC), produced by static fermentation of a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), in substrates formulated with commercial sucrose (SA), cocoa mucilage (CM) and hydrolysed whey powder (WP). Ten formulations were evaluated using a simplex centroid design with increased axial points to achieve the highest BC yield (30.08 ± 0.15 g/L) with 150 g of SA and 50 g of CM (T1), which produced a purity of 96%. The BC was then subjected to mineral tanning with chromium sulfate (SC), synthetic tanning with Tensotan GL-50 (T-GL) and vegetable tanning with tara powder (PT), both in pure and combined mixtures. The treatment with a mixture of 5% T-GL and 5% PT (T6) produced the highest tensile strength (23.12 ± 0.74 N/mm²), while the highest elongation (17.22 ± 0.80%) was achieved using a mixture of 5% SC and 5% T-GL (T4). SEM micrographs revealed random, adhesive fibers in the SC-tanned samples, as well as particle deposits and cracking in the PT-tanned samples. This explains their lower mechanical performance. In conclusion, CB bioleder shows promise as a substitute for conventional leather; however, the use of fixatives to improve stability and mechanical properties is required to optimize the performance of vegetable tanning agents.

Palavras-chave : symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY); biological leather, bacterial cellulose, tanning.

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