Abstract
Autoxidized cod oil or cod oil acid performed a striking effect of oil tanning when it was incubated with hide powder having suitable amount of moisture in a organic solvent medium under the nitrogen atmosphere. The effect did not depend on the period of oxidation for oil but was in a direct relation to peroxide content of the oxidized oil in contact with hide powder. The peroxide content decreased with the time of reaction with hide powder, while the tanning increased. These facts indicate a possibility that oil tanning involve a direct reaction between peroxide and hide. From analyzing amino acid composition of oil tanned hide, basic amino acid residues may have a role in oil tanning reaction.
