Pages 85–92
Abstract
Research summary supplied by the authors
Annual World leather process is estimated at 14 million tons of hides and skins, with a gradual reduction of about 20% during the recent years, due to the conversion of raw hides and skins into the low-grade protein, gelatin, as well as even landfill, etc. because of declining of leather market. More than 55% of world leather production is done in Asian countries such as India, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, etc. They process 7 million tons per annum using 3 million tons of chemicals and salts. They generate more than 2 million tons of solid wastes such as hair, raw hide trimmings, fleshing, wet blue trimmings and shavings per annum. Out of 3 million tons of chemicals used for the raw to semi-finishing operations only less than 25% of chemicals are fixed in the semi-finished leather and balance 75% is used as an aided chemicals and discharged as waste with effluent and sludge. Sustainable conversion of solid waste from tanneries and sludge from the effluent treatment plants are major challenges. Effective disposal of large volume of chrome containing sludge which is about 4 million tons per annum from World Leather Sector is one of major unresolved issues. The cleaner productions and nonchrome tanning agent and re-tanning agent which are a trend in the past few years and will be much more popular and mandatory in future due to the market demand and new regulations. This paper deals with new technological development on cleaner production, innovative R&D on the quality byproducts such as gelatin, collagen, etc. and corresponding effluent treatment process and future sustainable options for leather sector.