Tanning (leather)

Tanning is the process of treating skins and hides of animals to produce leather. A tannery is the place where the skins are processed.

Tanning hide into leather involves a process which permanently alters the protein structure of skin, making it more durable and less susceptible to decomposition, and also possibly coloring it.

Before tanning, the skins are dehaired, degreased, desalted and soaked in water over a period of six hours to two days. Historically this process was considered a noxious or "odoriferous trade" and relegated to the outskirts of town.

Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name, derived from the bark of specific trees. An alternative method, developed in the 1800's, is Chrome Tanning, and Chromium Salts are used instead of natural tannins.