Patents
Water utilization during leather manufacture is inevitable as it is important for diffusion and distribution of chemicals in the skin matrix. Since, higher volume of water is employed during various unit processes, the discharge of effluent correspondingly increase with the pollutants. The invention relates to avoiding the use of water for pickle-basification free chrome tanning process. Auxiliary chemicals like fat liquor, which is oil-in-water emulsion stable in acid and electrolyte medium are used to enhance the exhaustion of chromium during tanning process. Moreover, the use of salt and the basification process are avoided in the new process. The organoleptic and strength properties .of the tanned leathers are on par with conventionally processed leathers. This invention makes an effort to utilize the inherent water in the skin for tanning so as to attain sustainability with reduced pollution loads.