Plant derived Saponinaescin as an antimicrobial soaking agent

In the soaking process various unwanted contaminants are removed and skins are rehydrated. It is usually carried out with synthetic surfactants including biocides, salts and enzymes, or chemicals formulated as a mixture of surfactant, biocide and enzyme preparations in the form of aqueous emulsions. In this research, the feasibility of using aescin, a plant-derived saponin from horse chestnut seed, as an alternative natural antimicrobial biosurfactant in soaking process was studied. The effect of aescin was investigated in terms of microbial load, total protein content and chemical oxygen demand of soaking residual floats. Soaking baths were treated using a commercial product of aescin with 98% purity and synthetic biocides. The antimicrobial activity of aescin saponin was tested by using different concentrations of sapogenin (0.125-1g) in soaking process. Comparable results to synthetic biocides were obtained from horse chestnut saponin applications. Increased total protein content of soaking liquor in spite of decreased microbial growth was a good sign of antimicrobial soaking character of aescin saponin. The results obtained from the study reveals that Aescin saponin has the potential to be an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic surfactants and antimicrobial compounds for leather industry.