Effect of the Detoxification on the Shrinkage Temperature and pH of Chromium Leather Waste, Another Promising Way for the Tannery Pollution

Abstract

The leather tannery industry produces a significant amount of solid chromium waste. Environmental concerns and escalating landfill costs are becoming increasingly serious problems to the leather industry and alternative disposal methods are needed. This research describes the possibility of decrease of the shrinkage temperature and to increase the pH value of leather waste by detoxification treatment with use of tartrate potassium. Through this investigation, we have established that is more possible to reduce the shrinkage temperature and neutralizing the acidity of this waste without his degradation or digestion and with decreasing of his chromium content about 95%. The use of reaction time of 72 h generates the optimal decreasing of the shrinkage temperature of waste leather about 42°C close to the one of hide at native state (before tanning process) which reveal another ecological and simple way for the treatment of the chromium containing leather waste.