CHARACTERIZATION OF <em>ACACIA</em> <em>NILOTICA</em> AS AN INDIGENOUS TANNING MATERIAL OF SUDAN

Abstract

MAHDI, H., PALMINA, K. & GLAVTCH, I. 2006. Characterization of Acacia nilotica as an indigenous
tanning material of Sudan. Tannins from four indigenous and exotic woody plant species were studied by
different methods with objectives of evaluating the quantity and quality of extractable tannins for comparison
with standard Acacia mearnsii (wattle) tannins. The results showed that of the seven materials studied six
had > 10% tannin content and were thus suitable for commercial exploitation. Thin layer chromatography
indicated and confirmed the differences of the chemical nature of the materials as mixed and condensed
tannins. The protein precipitation behaviours confirmed complexity and differences in their nature and
potentiality for tanning or other uses compared with A. mearnsii. The tannin type of A. nilotica species was
of hydrolysable-condensed while that of A. mearnsii was of condensed type.