Coloration of Chrome Tanned Leather by Maillard Reaction

Abstract

Chrome tanned leather sheets could be colored in an aqueous solution containing reducing sugars, similar to the coloration of various foods containing both protein and reducing sugars, by the Maillard reaction. The obtained sheets showed yellowish or brownish color. Further reaction conditions, such as reaction time, temperature, and types of reducing sugar, were also investigated in this paper, where it was clear that their long reactions at the high temperatures (>95 ℃) caused not only their deep coloration, such as dark brown, but also their serious contraction owing to thermal denaturation of their protein