Elaboração de "couro ecológico" de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) (LINNAEUS, 1758) com a utilização de material sustentável disponível na biodiversidade maranhense

Abstract

Maranhão has strong potential for fish farming and the support from the government, universities, researchers and producers for this productive activity has converged towards consolidating the State as one of the main producers of farmed fish in the Northeast region. Large amounts of waste are generated from fishing activities and fish processing, and with a view to reducing the environmental impacts caused by their incorrect disposal, the full use of fish is encouraged, such as skin tanning. In this context, the objective of the study was to produce <ecological leather= from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (LINNAEUS, 1758) using sustainable material available in the biodiversity of Maranhão. To this end, the study was divided into three stages: (i) bibliographical survey on the topic under study; (ii) tanning 10 kilos of tilapia skins using shells of the tanning species Schinus terebinthifolius (mastic tree) as a source of tanning agent, pericarp of Attalea speciosa (babaçu) as the source of the acidifier and, Carica papaya (papaya) leaf as source of proteolytic enzyme (papain). Tanning was carried out in three phases: (1) riverside – washing, soaking, liming, stripping, purging and degreasing; (2) tanning – pickling and tanning; and, (3) finishing – neutralization, retanning, greasing, drying and softening; and, (iii) preparation of two guides with ISBN: volume 1 - Integumentary System in Fish; and, volume 2 - Fish Skin Tanning – Transformation of Skin into Leather. As a result, the leather produced after the tanning process was preserved from autolytic processes and microbial contamination, with a reddish-brown color typical of mastic extract, a firm texture, but some dryness and excess oil on its surfaces. It is concluded that the proposed Nile tilapia skin tanning is easy to execute, low cost and its production flowchart, with the use of homemade and accessible products, allows the replication of the process in communities, including fishing and aquaculture communities, the which converges to increase income for many families. In the state of Maranhão, it would be a technology for promising use in fish production centers such as Baixada Oeste, Baixada Oriental, Southern Region (or Gerais de Balsas) and Tocantina Region. Finally, with the proposed methodology and the guidance guides produced (illustrated and in accessible language), it is inferred that the dissertation is in line with the mission of universities to produce and disseminate intramural and extramural knowledge. And, also, with extensionist principles - dialogical interaction, interdisciplinarity, inseparability between teaching-research-extension, impact on student training and social transformation