General information about the sector

The activity of leather making consists of converting the skin or raw hide (which is a very putrescrible material) into a stable material called leather. Leather is involved in the manufacturing of a wide range of products. The process of leather manufacturing consists of both mechanical processes and complex chemical reactions. Amongst these, the process stage that gives leather its stability and essential character is tanning. There is a variety of desirable leather characteristics, such as: appearance, stability, water and temperature resistance, permeability and elasticity, ect. These properties are achieved by tanning (preservation of hides and skins) and by performing various steps of preparation and finishing.

As leather is a material that is used in the manufacturing of a wide range of products, different types of leather are required to meet the standards for each application. Some of the sectors where leather is used are the following: clothing, shoes, leather goods, upholstery for cars, boats and aircraft, furniture and many other items in daily use.

Industrial Activity (NACE Code C15.1)

Brine effluent generated in leather production

Soaking, liming, deliming-bating, tanning and post tanning processes generate effluents with possible high concentrations of ions such as Na⁺, Cl^-, NH₄⁺, CO₃^2-, Ca²⁺, SO₄^2-, OCl^-, S^2-, HSO₃^- and Cr⁶⁺ . The following tables summarize the key parameters for the characterization of different processes saline effluents.

Key parameters for soaking process wastewater characterization

Key parameters for liming and unhairing process wastewater characterization

Key parameters for deliming-bating process wastewater characterization

Key parameters for pickling effluent characterization

Key parameters for tanning wastewater characterization