METHOD FOR REMOVING HORN SUBSTANCE FROM SKINS, PELTS, OR FURS

Horny substances are removed from hides, pelts or skins of dead animals by treating the hides, pelts or skins in aqueous liquor with one or more compounds of the formula I or their corresponding alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts or ammonium or phosphonium salts, the variables being defined as follows: R1 is selected from hydrogen and C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more S-H or O-H groups; X1 to X4 are identical or different and are selected from hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, O-H, S-H and N-HR2, R2 is hydrogen or C1-C12-alkyl or a C1-C4-Alkyl-C-O group, at least one radical X1 to X4 being S-H when R1 contains at least one sulfur atom and at least two radicals X1 to X4 being S-H when R1 contains no sulfur atom.