Pollution Level Caused by the Effluents of Leather Industry and their Abatement

Abstract

This study concentrated on the physico-chemical characterization of effluents of leather industry and their reduction by filtration and coagulation processes as physical and chemical treatment. It was observed that the pH was basic and the TSS, TDS, BOD5 and COD were very high in the case of raw effluent. By adopting settling and filtration through glass wool, the effluents were somewhat treated. After that, chemical treatments were imposed upon them by using different doses of FeCl3 as coagulant and trimethyl ammonium chloride [(CH3)3NHCl] as coagulant aid. It was observed that best result was found by using coagulant (FeCl3) of 120 mg/L dose and coagulant aid [(CH3)3NHCl] 12 mg/L dose near the neutral pH. So, it could be said that tannery effluents would be treated by following a combination process of settling, filtering and coagulating with FeCl3 and [(CH3)3NHCl].