The leather processing industry relies heavily on wet chemical operations, including soaking, liming, tanning, dyeing, and fatliquoring, where inefficient uptake of chemical agents contributes to high chemical consumption, wastewater generation, and environmental concerns. The development of functional materials capable of improving chemical adsorption during leather processing is therefore essential for sustainable leather manufacture. Metal–Organic Framework–Layered Double Hydroxide (MOF–LDH) nanocomposites represent a promising class of hierarchical materials that combine the tunable layered structure of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with the high porosity and adsorption capacity of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). In this study, a MOF–LDH hierarchical composite material was designed and evaluated as an adsorption-enhancing additive for wet leather processing. The combination of LDH interlayer anion exchange capability and MOF porous channels provides multiple active adsorption sites for interaction with tanning agents, dyes, and fatliquoring molecules. Structural characterisation using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated successful formation of the hierarchical composite structure. The synthesised MOF–LDH particles exhibited nanoscale morphology with an average size of approximately 100 nm and a porous surface architecture. Application of MOF–LDH during chrome tanning significantly improved leather performance. Compared with conventional leather treated with 2% chrome tanning agent, MOF–LDH-assisted tanning increased the shrinkage temperature from 73°C to 89°C, indicating enhanced collagen stabilisation. Dye uptake increased from 87% to 92%, while fatliquor absorption improved from 88% to 94%. The softness value also increased, demonstrating improved physical properties of the finished leather. These improvements are attributed to enhanced adsorption and fixation of ionic chemical species within the collagen matrix. The results indicate that MOF–LDH materials provide an effective strategy for improving chemical utilisation efficiency, reducing chemical discharge, and promoting cleaner production in leather manufacturing.
Keywords: metal–organic framework; layered double hydroxide; adsorption; leather tanning; chrome reduction; sustainable processing; nanocomposite.