Wastewater control and management in a leather tanning district

Initial assessment of industrial structure and wastewater characteristics i s important for successful environmental management in an industrial distri ct. This is particularly important for the cases where highly polluting ind ustries such leather tanners are of concern. In this study, Biga Leather Ta nners District was evaluated. The process characteristics, wastewater amoun ts, wastewater quality and their variations with time were defined. The dis trict housed 46 tanning plants, processing mainly sheepskins with a total c apacity of 66.5 tons skin per day. Process profile was prepared and checked With experimental data. Chemical treatability experiments were conducted t o assess the pretreatment alternatives. Chemical precipitation preceded by catalytic air oxidation of sulfide was found to be an optimum pretreatment system providing COD and TKN removals up to 80% together with complete chro mium removal, Results of the study were evaluated and discussed. (C) 1999 I AWQ Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.