PROCESSING OF VEGAN LEATHER

USING WATER HYACINTH

{Eichhornia crassipes}
INTRODUCTION

 Aquatic weeds- Global issue

 Major characteristics of weeds
-unwanted occurrence
-undesirable features
-ability to adapt to disturbed environment
DESCRIPTION
 Free floating perennial plant
 Broad thick ovate glossy leaves
 Can grow up to 1 metre in height
 Spongy bulbous stalk
 Feathery free hanging roots
 Reproduction: vegetative propagation and stolons
 Also capable of cloning itself
 Flower throughout the year, releases more than 3000 seeds per year and could
live upto 20 years.
WHY ARE INVASIVE SPECIES A BAD THING ?

• THEY HAVE NO
NATURAL ENEMIES IN
PLACE TO LIMIT
POPULATION GROWTH.
• THEY STEAL RESOURCES
LIKE FOOD AND WATER
FROM NATIVE SPECIES.
• THEY THREATEN THE
HEALTH OF
AGRICULTURE AND
FORESTS AND
INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
 Flowers are
pollinated by long
tongued bees and
they can reproduce
both sexually and
clonally. The
invasiveness of the
hyacinth is related
to its ability to
clone itself and
large patches are
PURPLE VIOLET FLOWER likely to all be part
MAKES IT A POPULAR of the same genetic
ORNAMENTAL PLANT
form.
REMOVAL OF WATER HYACINTH FROM RIVERS, LAKES AND PONDS

 Manual removal (hand pull and

pitch forks)
 Mechanical removal (boat ,
aquatic-harvester)
PROCESS TO MAKE WATER HYACINTH INTO VEGAN LEATHER

 Harvesting water hyacinth

 Sun drying for 5-7 days
 Fiber extraction
 Preparation of leather sheet
 Analyzing the properties of leather
 Finishing
 HARVESTING AND DRYING

 Water hyacinth stem is fibrous and filled with water content.

 In order to transform those stems into usable material for handicrafts , they
have to be dried first.
 This process can be done in several ways , but the best way is to let nature does
the work.
 Natural heat from the sun is perfect for this job.
 Left out in the sun for 5-7 days , water hyacinth stems will be perfectly dried.
 FIBER EXTRACTION
 There are many extraction methods such as mechanical extraction , chemical
extraction , boiling extraction etc.,
 The mechanical extraction was the first method used for the extraction of
water hyacinth fibers.
 The outer shell of the stem was continuously scraped to obtain fibers.
 Mechanical extraction produced fibers fast and efficient results with low cost.
 PREPARATION OF LEATHER SHEET
 After being sun-dried , water hyacinth
stems could be wetted by dripping
water.
 Then the dried stems are cut into equal
halves and remove the inner surface of
stem.
 Outer layer of stem is used and it is
pasted by using natural gums forming a
layer of sheet.
 Then it is ironed and processed to fill
the pores present in the leather sheet.
 Applying of anti-fungal agents for
protection.
 ANALYZING THE PROPERTIES OF LEATHER
The following tests is used to determine the properties of leather:
 Resistance to wetting test
 Tear load test
 Relative stiffness test
 Tensile strength test
 Color fastness test
 FINISHING
 By applying a few thin coats of varnish oil on water hyacinth fiber , products
would have more shiny finish which would preserve the appearance longer as
well as provide more anti-fungal property.
 BENEFITS OF VEGAN LEATHER
 Transformation of weeds like water hyacinths through
reprocessing into artificial leather.
 Vegan leather is an eco-friendly material and easily bio-
degradable
 This leather would be cost-effective.
 Making water hyacinths for processing of leather goods
can also help to reduce amount of water hyacinth like
weeds to invasively spread around the water bodies.
 Being a great substitute for the genuine animal leather in
making various leather goods.
 Vegan leather can also reduce the usage of animal
leather.
 It also provides job opportunities for processing of waste
weeds into useful handicrafts.
 FUTURE PROSPECTS AND GROWTH OF VEGAN LEATHER

 Vegan leather goods are defined as the accessories which

is made up of synthetic leather making their outfitted life
extremely enhanced and making the product eco-friendly.
 Rising usage of leather results in highly developed appeal
of the product and making the product consist of more
features and characteristics.
 The global vegan leather goods market is expected to
grow at a progressive CAGR during the forecast period.
PAPER ORGANIC
MANURE
WATER HYACINTH

BIOGAS
BAGS

MATS BASKETS
 STEPS TO MAKING WATER HYACINTH PAPER
 Harvest hyacinth plants, chop off roots and
leaves.
 Cook chopped hyacinth on low flame for
about three hours.
 Sieve cooked chopped hyacinth into bowl.
 Pour into a blender or mixing machine along
with recycled paper that has been mashed
Fetching cooked Hyacinth weed from the
into pulp and left in a concentrate for a few
pot to begin the papermaking process days. Blend the mixture.
 Pour out mixed hyacinth and recycled paper
concentrate into a giant tank of water to
cool.
 Remove unwanted coarse material from the
concentrate.
 Arrange pulp on screen rectangular wooden
frames and dry for about five to six hours.
 Flatten the Hyacinth paper if desired, the
Mashed paper concentrate meets cooked paper is ready to be made into postcards,
chopped Hyacinth in the blending machine paper products.