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Content archived on 2024-04-19

Process technology for recovery and recycling of chromium from leather waste and sludge

Objective

* To recover the chromium from solid wastes produced by the tanning industry (currently disposed off to landfill);
* to recover the chromium from discarded leather items such as worn-out footwear, upholstery and clothing;
* to recycle the chromium as tanning agent.


These objectives are extremely ambitious, but they are believed to be technically feasible and absolutely essential to facilitate the continued competitiveness of the EC leather industry, and ultimately to assist its survival. The technologies and areas of research representing the potential solution to the recovery and recycling problem are introduced below.

1. Enzyme or alkaline hydrolysis of leather waste, followed by separation of the dissolved chromium to enable recovery and recycling (BLC, DTI, WGR).
2. Autothermic drying and burning of the waste to produce an ash with high chromium content. This will be fed into the existing chromium recovery plant for mineral ores (BLC).
3. Updraft gasification reactor. This is an alternative methods of reducing the waste to form a feedstock for the chromium kilns (DTI).
4. Plasma pyrolysis. This is a further, extremely novel "hitech" possibility for producing chromium kiln feedstock from waste materials (BLC).
5. Fundamental thermal degradation research (WGR). This will provide fundamental knowledge concerning pyrolysis, and is essential in defining the most appropriate thermal technique.

The achievements will be :

* Proof of the technical and economical feasibility of a system for the large scale recovery and recycling of chromium : such a system will embrace the achievements listed below;
* protection of the environment from chromium contamination;
* elimination of the landfilling of huge volumes of organic based tannery wastes, etc.;
* the recycling of chromium (with an associated reduction in the quantity imported into the European Community, and the general conservation of natural chromium deposits);
* improvement in the environmental compatibility of the European leather industry;
* facilitation of compliance with EC directives such as the waste directive (91/156/EEC) and the IPPC (draft) directive.

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Funding Scheme

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CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

BLC LEATHERSELLERS RESEARCH CENTRE LTD
EU contribution
No data
Address
University College, Northampton, Park Campus, Boug
NN2 7AL NORTHAMPTON
United Kingdom

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Total cost

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Participants (4)

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