Abstract A new tanning agent is provided comprising an organic salt of a phosphorated and ethoxylated saturated fatty acid. The tanning agent is prepared by reacting a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 20 carbon atoms with ethylene oxide, phosphorating the resulting ethoxylated fatty acid ester with phosphoric anhydride, and neutralizing the phosphorated ester with a strong organic base, such as triethanolamine. The tanning agent is preferably dissolved in a water soluble solvent such as dimethyl formamide and may be diluted with water for addition in the wet processing of leather. The new tanning agent may be added to the leather in the tanning wheel either during the initial tanning or during retanning, and is particularly useful in connection with chrome tanned leathers. Such tanning agents increase dye values and improve softness and other properties of the leather. They also permit the reduction or elimination of chrome tanning agents and fat liquors in the retanning stage as well as improving take up of chrome in the tanning and/or retanning.
Inventors
👤 Gerald M Cote
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-28 20:19
CPC Classifications
C; C14; C14C; C14C3/00; C14C3/02; C14C3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A TANNING AGENT FOR LEATHER COMPRISING AN ORGANIC SALT OF A PHOSPHORATED ETHOXYLATED SATURED FATTY ACID ESTER, THE SATURATED FATTY ACID HAVING FROM 12 TO 20 CARBON ATOMS AND SAID SALT BEING THE NEUTRALIZATION PRODUCT OF SAID ESTER WITH AN ORGANIC BASE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
A TANNING AGENT FOR LEATHER COMPRISING AN ORGANIC SALT OF A PHOSPHORATED ETHOXYLATED SATURED FATTY ACID ESTER, THE SATURATED FATTY ACID HAVING FROM 12 TO 20 CARBON ATOMS AND SAID SALT BEING THE NEUTRALIZATION PRODUCT OF SAID ESTER WITH AN ORGANIC BASE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tanning agent according to claim 1 wherein said ester is approximately 50 percent monoethoxy ester and 50 percent diethoxy and is phosphorated with phosphoric anhydride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tanning agent according to claim 1 wherein said organic base is triethanolamine, and said salt has a pH of about 6 to 7.5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tanning agent according to claim 3 wherein said salt is dissolved in a water soluble solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A tanning agent according to claim 4 wherein said solvent is dimethyl formamide.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of making a tanning agent for leather comprising the steps of reacting a saturated fatty acid having from 12 to 20 carbon atoms with ethylene oxide, phosphorating the resulting ethoxylated saturated fatty acid ester by reacting with phosphoric anhydride, and neutralizing the phosphorated compound with an organic base.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of making a tanning agent for leather comprising the steps of reacting a saturated fatty acid having from 12 to 20 carbon atoms with ethylene oxide, phosphorating the resulting ethoxylated saturated fatty acid ester by reacting with phosphoric anhydride, and neutralizing the phosphorated compound with an organic base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the neutralized compound is dissolved in a water soluble solvent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein about one mole of phosphoric anhydride is reacted with every three moles of ester.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein said ester is approximately 50 percent mono-ester and 50 percent di-ester.