Abstract

In the tanning process, several mechanical operations generate solid organic wastes of various kind and size (from dust to leather off cuts). They contain fats and proteins that it is possible to recover by the use of suitable technologies. The methods used are quite variable, depending on the state of the wastes and whether they are tanned or not. In the first case the tanned scraps must be purged from chrome and hence the technologies usually utilised are expensive related to the market values of fats and proteins. On the otherhand, the organic scraps from fleshing and dehairing phases are not tanned and contain high quantity of fats, proteins and amino acids.

At present, theoretical studies and experimental trials have been performed in order to investigate the use of organic material recovered in the various phases of the tanning process. It has been shown that they can be used as animal feed, organic fertilisers, feed for biogas generators or to produce proteins, enzymes, technical fats and raw material for beauty products, etc. However, the current available technology does not result in significant financial gains.

This research project aims to devise new technologies to be utilised in the tanning cycle in order to recovery, from the scraps, useful materials such as high purity fats and proteins. In addition higher added value products that can be used as raw material in other productive applications (lsuch as cosmetics), will be obtained.

It is worth noting that the production of solid wastes from tanneries is quite significant (about 1.2 million tonnes per annum). Hence, these reclaiming technologies should be of great interest to the tanning industry, particularly in terms of the improvement in materials management and the reduction of both the working cycle costs and the environmental impact of the industry.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Sandro SANTOLI / CARASCO Srl ITALY

Participant

• Antonis KOKKINOS / A & G. Kokkinos O.E GREECE
• Fabrizio MARCACCI / A.L.P.A. SpA ITALY
• Jose ADZET / Asociación de Investigación de las Industrias del Curtido y Anexas / SPAIN
• Alcino MARTINHO / Centro Tecnologico das Industrias do Couro PORTUGAL
• Antonio GONZALEZ / Curtilop, S.A. SPAIN
• Augusto SOUSA ROSA / Curtumes kappeler Portuguesa S.A. PORTUGAL
• ENEA Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente / ITALY
• Giovanni GIANNANDREA / Enoitalia Srl ITALY
• Nikolaos TSEREPIS / F. Kofinadelis - K. Tserepis Bros O.E. GREECE
• Hellenic Leather Centre SA GREECE
• Ioannis TSILIAS / I. Tsilias - N. Giakoumidis & Co O.E GREECE
• Pedro BERTRAN MAS / Industrias Bertran S.L SPAIN
• Antonio Alfredo CRISPIM RIBEIRO / Instituto Politecnico do Porto Centro de investigaçao de Engenharia Aplicada / PORTUGAL
• Joao MARQUES / MARSIPEL Industria de Curtumes Lda / PORTUGAL
• Manuel SANTANA EPIFANIO / Manufacturas de Peles e Tecidos S.A. PORTUGAL
• Giovanni GHIMENTI / Studio Delta Srl Delta G & A / ITALY
• Manuel Jose M GOMES MOTA / Universidade do Minho Department for Biological Engineering / PORTUGAL
• Ciardelli FRANCESCO / Università Degli Studi di Pisa Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry / ITALY