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Case Studies: Recirculation of Pickle Baths in the leather-tanning sector
| Recirculation of Pickle Baths in the leather-tanning sector
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INTRODUCTION
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The company took part in a European demonstration project for the extensive introduction of cleaner technologies, conservation of raw materials and optimization of the production process in the tanning industry. The company does double-faced leather curing for makers of sheepskin clothing. In the pickling process, the skins used to be introduced into four mixing tubs where they were treated with a mixture of formic acid, sulphuric acid and salt, which was dissolved in 12m3 (15.7 cubic yards) of water per tub and process. When the process was finished, the pickling liquor was drained from the bottom of the tubs, creating acid wastewater containing particles in suspension and oil and fat residual, which was put through a final sewage treatment process before its disposal.
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FINANCIAL DETAILS
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Investment Amount:
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US $72,229 |
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Estimated Time to Recover Investment:
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24 month(s)
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Estimated Life Cycle of the Investment:
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10 years |
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Finance Sources:
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Commercial Debt |
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TECHNOLOGY
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Technology Used:
The technology used involved the addition of a filtration process and a storage tank where the recovered pickling liquor was captured and adjusted for reinsertion into the process. About half of the recovered liquor is reusable using this process. Treatment of the resultant waste was facilitated through the elimination of sulphuric acid, substituting formic acid in its place.
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Technical feasability analysis:
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Environmental assessment:
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ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
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Benefits: Reduced Water Pollutants
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Details:
Water use: reduced by half, from 12,000 l (3,120 U.S. gallons) to 6,000 l (1,560 U.S. gallons);
Sulfuric acid: eliminated;
Salt use: reduced by half, from 1,000 kg (2,204 pounds) to 500 kg (1,102 pounds);
Effluent: reduction of chlorides, conductivity and soluble salts.
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