Utilization of leather fibrous wastes for the production of reconstituted fibric materials: heavy metal determination and removal

Incomprehension concerning heavy metal containing finished solid leather wastes leads to environmental pollution. Conversion of these solid leather waste into energy and resource efficient products proves to be challenging. However, leather microfibres (LMF) were isolated from these heavy metal containing finished solid leather wastes. These heavy metal contain LMF further processed into metal reduction LMF. The metal reduction LMF were investigated for their heavy metal removal efficiency and toxicity analysis. The Cr (III) and Cr (VI) content of LMF was <1000 µg/mL and <800 µg/mL, respectively. Toxicity estimation was proved that the LMF had less than 1%. The study attempt to prepare reconstituted fibric materials (RFM) from metal reduction LMF and cellulose nanofibres (CNF). RFM were characterized for their physicochemical and mechanical properties. Hence, the study has proved a novel concept of RFM production which is recyclable, environmental friendly and cost effective.