The development of a cleaner and sustainable tanning system is gaining more importance, which is driving the search to an alternative for conventional chrome tanning. In the present study, tanning systems based on Rumex abyssinicus (mekmeko) extract for the production of upper leathers were investigated as a cleaner alternative tanning system. The characteristics of mekmeko extract as a tanning agent for leather processing were also studied in comparison with commercial wattle extract, as a control. The average size of particles in mekmeko extract is observed to be slightly higher than wattle extract. The critical aggregation concentration of mekmeko is observed to be at 0.39%, which is slightly at a higher concentration than wattle extract. An increase in hydrothermal stability of leathers with the increasing offer of mekmeko for tanning was observed. The organoleptic and strength properties of the upper leathers from the mekmeko tanning system are found to be comparable to that of wattle tanning systems. Therefore, the results in this study indicate that the manufacture of upper leathers using the tanning mentioned above system found to be satisfactory and also leads to a greener tanning pathway.

中文翻译：

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Rumex Abyssinicus（mekmeko）：皮革制造的新选择

开发更清洁，可持续的鞣制系统变得越来越重要，这正在推动人们寻找常规铬鞣制的替代品。在本研究中，基于Rumex abyssinicus的鞣制系统研究了用于生产上层皮革的（mekmeko）提取物，作为一种更清洁的鞣制系统。与作为对照的商业蜡watt提取物相比，还研究了mekmeko提取物作为皮革加工鞣剂的特性。观察到mekmeko提取物中颗粒的平均尺寸略高于荆树提取物。观察到mekmeko的临界聚集浓度为0.39％，该浓度略高于荆芥提取物。观察到皮革的水热稳定性随mekmeko用于鞣制的需求的增加而增加。发现来自mekmeko鞣制系统的鞋面皮革的感官特性和强度特性可与荆芥制革系统媲美。因此，