Synthetic Tannins, Their Synthesis, Industrial Production and Application

"Synthetic Tannins, Their Synthesis, Industrial Production and Application" by Georg Grasser is a scientific document that examines synthetic tannins and their role in the early-20th-century leather and chemical industries. The book explores the chemical creation of synthetic tannins, their applications in leather production, and their economic importance, especially after World War I. It focuses on the progress in making tannins, which are vital for the modern leather industry. Grasser highlights the economic advantages of using local materials rather than relying on imports, discussing the principles of tannins and their chemical reactions in turning animal hides into leather. He acknowledges Emil Fischer's work on natural tannins and the subsequent development of synthetic alternatives and emphasizes the widespread use of these synthetic tannins in the leather industry, drawing upon his experience as a technical consultant to the Austrian Hide and Leather Commission.