A new tanning technology is introduced at the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE), which will be held in Shanghai, China, from September 6-8, 2011. LANXESS, the German specialty chemicals company, is launching X-Tan, an organic tanning process. Compared with conventional systems, it offers substantial advantages for the wet white production in terms of quality and ecological aspects.

The major advantages of this innovative tanning process are high quality of leather and sustainable tannage. One of the key features of the new X-Tan technology is the virtual whiteness of the leather. Due to a complete absence of a strong color of the intermediate and a good dyeability brilliant and uniform colors can be achieved. At the same time, the resulting leathers have very good physical properties: X-Tan has shown a very high stability at climate change tests and offers a particularly good tear resistance.

X-Tan can be used for all types of leather. It is a robust process that combines first-class performance with ecological advantages without using chemicals with critical toxicological properties. X-Tan is based on the active ingredient polycarbamoyl sulfonate (PCMS). During tannage PCMS permanently and irreversibly cross-links with the lysine groups of the collagen. This ensures excellent tanning results and a very stable and transportable wet white.

During tanning only toxicologically uncritical substances are used or generated. The leather, shavings and effluent contain no reactive tanning materials. Furthermore, no pickling is required. This results in a significant reduction of the salt load in the effluent. Here, X-Tan gives an important contribution to preserve the natural resource water and significantly reduces the environmental contamination caused by the wet white process.

The new X-Tan technology is fully in line with the aims of LANXESS’ initiative “Sustainable Leather Management”. This is designed to extend and enhance the company’s product portfolio for sustainable leather production.

Detailed information on “Sustainable Leather Management” and on the new X-Tan technology can be found on the Internet at www.lanxessleather.com.

At the ACLE fair, LANXESS will exhibit its broad spectrum of products and systems for the manufacture of shoe, upholstery and automotive leather. It includes premium products for processes that save energy and resources and minimize both, the volume of waste and effluent produced and the use of substances that are harmful to health and the environment.

LANXESS offers products for all stages of the leather manufacturing process from the wet end to the finishing. The company has one of the broadest portfolios of leather chemicals, including mineral and synthetic tanning materials, preservatives, tanning auxiliaries, fatliquoring agents, dyestuffs and numerous finishing products, e.g. polyurethane dispersions and polyacrylates.

The Leather business unit is part of LANXESS’ Performance Chemicals segment, which posted sales of EUR 1.98 billion in fiscal 2010.