Sky Fruit Seed Crush: A Potential Source of Less Salt Curing of Raw Goatskin

The study explored the use of Sky Fruit Seed Crush (SFSC) as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional sodium salt curing for preserving raw goatskin. A mixture of 10% SFSC and 10% sodium salt by weight was found to be optimal, effectively preserving the skin over a month based on various assessments including odor, hair loss, shrinkage temperature, moisture level, and bacterial population. The SFSC method resulted in a 59% reduction in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and a 44% reduction in chloride content when processed into leather, indicating a lower environmental impact. The leather's quality was maintained, as shown by physical property tests and SEM analysis, suggesting that SFSC could be a viable option for less salt curing of raw goatskin with reduced environmental consequences.