Optimization and application of UVC irradiation for prevention of fungal biodeterioration of vegetable tanned and chrome tanned leather

UV-C irradiation critically effects the growth of micro-fungi and also deteriorate leather materials. In the present study vegetable tanned and chrome tanned leather were infected with pure cultures of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, which were isolated from stored leather materials. UV-C light (λ = 254 nm) was applied on infected leather for 15 and 60 min. The changes in leather qualities were examined through weight, tensile strength, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study after 15 and 30 days of fungal inoculation. Vegetable tanned leather was more vulnerable in case of fungal attack than chrome tanned leather while A. flavus showed more influence on leather deterioration than A. niger. The results showed that weight loss after 30 days for 15 and 60 min irradiation exposure was 1.3% compared to A. flavus infected leather (3.93%). The tensile strength of vegetable and chrome tanned UV irradiated leather was increased by 44% and 7% respectively. The scanning electron microscopic images exhibit the limited presence of conidiophores in UV-C exposed leather which confirmed the potentiality of irradiation for controlling fungal growth. The infrared spectral analysis of UV-C exposed infected leather samples showed neither shifting of wavenumber nor displacement of any functional groups. Altogether the efficacy of UV-C irradiation against biodeterioration of leather was concluded to be effective. This method can be used to control fungal growth without compromising the leather quality.

Graphical Abstract