There is provided a process for tanning animal hide comprising treating an animal hide with at least one tanning agent and exposing the treated hide to a dose of ionising radiation of from 1 to 500 kJ/kg wherein the ionising radiation is in the form of a charged particle beam.

A method for tanning an animal skin may include: (a) putting the skin in contact with a first tanning bath including at least one dialdehyde of general formula OCH(CH.sub.2).sub.nHCO, wherein n is 0 or an integer number greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 8, and wherein the first tanning bath has a pH greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 5; (b) bringing the pH of the first tanning bath to a pH greater than 5 and less than 8; and/or (c) repeating one or more times the steps (a) and (b) on the skin coming from the step (b) using a second or further tanning bath. In the first, second, and further tanning baths, surfactants may be present in a total quantity less than 0.05% by weight relative to a pelt weight of the skin.

A method for tanning an animal skin may include: (a) putting the skin in contact with a first tanning bath including at least one dialdehyde of general formula OCH(CH.sub.2).sub.nHCO, wherein n is 0 or an integer number greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 8, and wherein the first tanning bath has a pH greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 5; (b) bringing the pH of the first tanning bath to a pH greater than 5 and less than 8; and/or (c) repeating one or more times the steps (a) and (b) on the skin coming from the step (b) using a second or further tanning bath. In the first, second, and further tanning baths, surfactants may be present in a total quantity less than 0.05% by weight relative to a pelt weight of the skin.