Potency of different banana bunches cultivar (Musa sp) as vegetable tanning agents

Abstract

Leather tanning with natural tannin sources is expected to reduce environmental
issues. Banana plants (Musa sp) as one of tropical plants are known to have a high tannin
contents. This paper aimed to identify the potency of several banana bunches cultivar as
vegetable tanning agents. The study was conducted by analyzing the tannin levels of banana
bunches extract from three banana plant cultivars. The banana bunches used were Kepok
(Musa parasidiaca L.), Raja (Musa textilia) and Ambon (Musa acuminata Cavendish). Tannin
extraction were assessed using shoxhlet extractor with 70% ethanol. Determination of tannin
content using 10 grams sample with processing conditions temperature were 70°C and 60
minutes extraction time using spectrophotometer at wavelenght 700 nm. Tannin level data
were analyzed by descriptive analysis. Based on the concentration of the standard solution and
the absorbance produced, the standard gallic acid curve regression were y = 0.0063x + 0.1082
with R 2 = 0.8543. Results showed that kepok produced highest tannin levels between 0.87% –
2.04%, while Raja between 0.04% – 0.67% and Ambon were between 0.05% – 0.33% at the
standard solution concentrations of 20 – 100 ppm. It is concluded that Kepok banana bunches
has the best potential as vegetable tanning agent. Further laboratory studies are needed to
determine the quality of tanned leather resulting from banana bunches tanning.