Selective degradation and oxidation of hemicellulose in corncob to oligosaccharides: From biomass into masking agent for sustainable leather tanning.

Chrome-free metal tanning agent has been considered as eco-friendly in the leather industry. However, extensive crosslinking reactions of metal species on the leather surface restrain their uniform penetration into the hierarchical nanoscale leather matrix. Thus, masking agents with appropriate coordination ability are needed. Herein, the selective degradation of hemicellulose in corncob was achieved with 92.5% of conversion in an AlCl 3 –H 2 O system, obtaining oligosaccharides masking agent with high purity and leaving cellulose and lignin in the solid residue for other valuable use. Subsequently, H 2 O 2 oxidation was performed to introduce –CHO/–COOH into oligosaccharides and reduce their molecular weights, thereby enhancing coordination ability and reducing ligand dimension. The post-oxidized reaction fluids together with additional Zr species were subjected to leather tanning, in which the oligosaccharides could coordinate with Al/Zr species and promote the penetration of metal species into the leather matrix. By controlling the hemicellulose degradation and oligosaccharide oxidation, an appropriate concentration of oligosaccharides with proper –CHO/–COOH contents allowed the efficient masking effect of the oligosaccharides. As a result, a uniform distribution of Al/Zr species was observed on the cross section, and 83.5 °C of shrinkage temperature was obtained for the chrome-free tanned leather. [Display omitted] • Hemicellulose in corncob was selectively degraded into oligosaccharides. • Bi-functional AlCl 3 acted as catalyst for biomass conversion and tanning agent. • H 2 O 2 oxidation brought –CHO/–COOH to oligosaccharides to improve masking ability. • 83.5 ℃ Ts of the tanned leather was obtained with even penetration of metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]