Senaratne, S.M.D.S.C.Samaraweera, A.M.Wickramasingha, A.W.2022-01-072022-01-0720159789550481088http://www.erepo.lib.uwu.ac.lk/bitstream/handle/123456789/8203/26-ANS-Potential%20to%20use%20extracts%20from%20Lawsonia%20inermis%20.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yIn Sri Lanka mainly mimosa bark powder and chesnut powder are used to produce vegetable tanned leather. However, these tannin agents can produce limited number of colors and are imported to Sri Lanka with high import cost. As a result, final vegetable tanned leather products become high in price. Thus, it is necessary to find out locally available, low cost tannin agents to produce vegetable tanned leathers. Emblica officinalis (Nelli) fruits and Lawsonia inermis (Marathondi) leaves are two such locally available tannin agents with considerably high tannin content (nelli fruits-18-35 % (Pushpakumara and Heenkenda, 2012) and Marathondi leaves- 11.12% (Musa, 2012). Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess the quality of leather prepared using locally available tanning agents, Marathondhi leaves and Nelli fruit extracts. Methodology 3.6 kg of marathondi leaves and 1.2 kg of nelli fruits were first crushed and ground separately. Then it was mixed with 3 L of water and was filtered into separate containers. Same tannin concentration (5 backometer value) was maintained in all containers. Further, a mimosa solution with same concentration was prepared as the control. Then, the buffalo hides were, soaked, dehaired and delimed and partial pickling was also done prior to the tanning according to the leather manufacturing procedure of Ceylon Leather Products PLC. Then, nine hide pieces with 6 x 7 inch was selected from same area of these buffalo hides. Weight and thicknesses of each piece was measured and recorded. After that, solutions were added into separate containers and three pieces of hide were dipped in each container. After hides were dipped, concentration of each solution was increased by 5 backo every four days up to four weeks. Tannin penetration was also measured until it obtains 3 mm. After finishing process, physical parameters, mean penetration rate (mm/day), thickness, mean yield of the leather (%) and mean tensile strength was measured in all treatments and was compared with control. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used to allocate treatments and data analysis was done using Minitab 15 software. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for comparison of data at (significance level of 95%) and. Dunnet’s procedure was used for mean separation. Sensory evaluation was conducted to select the best tannin agent based on the appearance, hardness, fullness and overall acceptability of finished leather using 10 trained panelists and results of the sensory evaluation after analysis by Friedman test. Result and Discussion During tanning of hides Nelli tannin media was seen as light cream color whereas control (Mimosa) and Marathondi media were darker in color. Though, Nelli and Mimosa media had pleasant smell, Marathondi had an unpleasant smell. Nelli was more acidic (pH 3.2) and pH values of Mimosa and Marathondi were pH- 4.6 and pH 4.3, respectively. After the tannin process, loose grain was observed on the Nelli treated hides. Mean penetration rate, yield, thickness reduction and tensile strength were measured as physical parametersenAnimal SciencesVegetable CultivationAgricultureExport AgricultureOther