Abstract
This study offers an integrated process for treatment and recycling of tannery waste, it has a dual purpose. First the activated carbon has been prepared from leather shaving and buffing dust by physical activation. Both the raw material (leather waste) and the prepared activated carbon were analyzed by DTG, Thermo Gravimetric Analysis TGA, and scanning electron microscope. The adsorption tests of methylene blue and iodine onto the raw material and the prepared adsorbent were carried out and it was found that the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon was enhanced by the physical activation. The Activated Carbon was then characterized by equation of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area was found to be 491.05 and 242.60 m2/g for activated carbons prepared from Leather Savings and Buffing Dust respectively and the functional groups on the adsorbent surface were mainly CN, NH, OH, CO and CS. Secondly, the performance of the prepared activated carbon was assessed by adsorption of chromium (VI) from a synthetic solution, and then the chromium (III) present in the tanning effluent. The results revealed a decrease of chromium by 76% and 73% for the activated carbons prepared from Leather Savings and Buffing Dust, respectively
Highlights
Tanneries industries generate a lot of waste that has negative impact on the environment and human health
For DTG analysis, figure 2b, which is a thermal analysis technique to measure the endothermic and exothermic transitions as a function of the temperature, the analysis shows a peak between 38 to 318.7°C which corresponds to a first departure of water according to an endothermic reaction (ΔH = 693.5 J/g), the start of release of volatile organic materials according to an endothermic reaction (ΔH = 617 J/g)
The results show that adsorption occurred at the surface of the both raw materials possibly on the functional group available at the surface of Leather Shaving and Buffing Dust, for example -CO, -CONH, and –NH22
Summary
Tanneries industries generate a lot of waste that has negative impact on the environment and human health. The threat is the dumping of its solid and liquid waste that contains dangerous leftovers such as proteinaceous colloids, fats, tannins, flesh and hair, as well as toxic elements such as sulfides and chromium. All these "tailings" are a source of pollution and wastage that the leather industry cannot afford specially during this crisis period that lasted for several years, and is going from bad to worse. When chromium Cr(III) is released in the nature, it is oxidized to hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) form which is known to be both acutely and chronically toxic to human, even when present in low concentrations. It is important to remove both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from the contaminated water before it is discharged
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
