Biodegradable films based on gelatin extracted from chrome leather scrap.

A biodegradable film based on gelatin extracted from chrome leather scrap was studied in this paper. According to the results of a variety of characterization, the extracted gelatin contains 13 kinds of amino acid; the chrome content is 30mg/kg, mineral and salt content are both at low levels and the nitrogen content is 43.84%. Its molecular weight has been measured at about 6.5kDa ∼26.6kDa, and the average particle distribution appears to be 125nm with a narrow distribution. When the extracted gelatin was modified with the β-cyclodextrin to prepare the biodegradable films, the β-cyclodextrin and gelatin blends can build up perfect compatibility and film-forming properties. Comparing to the gelatin film without β-cyclodextrin, the viscosity, biodegradability, thermal stability and physical properties of the β-cyclodextrin and gelatin blends in the present research were significantly increased, especially when the ratio of β-cyclodextrin to gelatin was 1:2, the biodegradation rates reached 81%, elongation at break 15.74% and the tensile strength 122.34MPa. The blends show perfect swelling properties and overcome the rapid solubility drawback of extracted gelatin.