Development of an alternative low salt bovine hide preservation using PEG and crude glycerol, Part I: Evaluation of PEG molecular weight fractions.

Brine curing using sodium chloride is widely used for the short-term preservation of cattle hides. Due to economics and efficiency, it has become the traditional method of hide preservation used by meat packers, hide processors and tanners worldwide. But brine curing is known to cause serious effluent pollution problems in the environment. The main objective of the current study was to develop an alternative brining process that requires less salt to effectively preserve bovine hides by incorporating dehydrating agents. In low saltpreservation, the anticipated hardening effect due to over dehydration caused by polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers was compensated by adding crude glycerol and sodium carbonate. Low molecular weight PEGs were more effective than high molecular weight polymers. Preservation was found to be effective because no sign of putrefaction was observed in alternatively cured hides, and the properties of these hides were comparable to those of traditionally preserved hides. When PEG was incorporated, the salt concentration required for hide preservation could be reduced.