| abstract |
The invention relates to a method for removing horn substances from animal skin. Said method is characterised in that animal skins are treated in an aqueous bath containing between 0.05 and 5 wt. % - in relation to the weight of the salt - of at least one compound of general formula I or the corresponding alkali metallic salts or alkaline-earth metallic salts thereof or ammonium or phosphonium salts, the variables having the following definitions: R1 is selected from hydrogen or C1-C12 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by at least one S-H group or one O-H group; X1 to X4 are the same or different and selected from hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, O-H, S-H or N-HR2; and R2 represents hydrogen or C1-C12 alkyl or a C1-C4-alkyl-C=O group, at least one X1 to X4 representing S-H. If R1 contains neither O-H nor S-H, at least one other X1 to X4 is selected from S-H, OH or NH-R2. Said aqueous bath also comprises at least one compound which catalyses the hydrolysis of peptide compounds. |