CLRI develops 'green' tech for leather processing

The Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) has come up with an environment friendly as well as cost-effective leather processing technology that will comply with stringent global norms.

The chemical laboratory of the CLRI has developed a basket of technologies together with altering the sequence of events in the tanning process to achieve the desired results. Processes like salt free curing, lime and sulphide free beamhouse process and post tanning are followed by tanning employing reverse processing technique, said the group of leather researchers who are the brains behind what they call 'rationalised leather processing'.

Conventional leather processing methods are known to contribute huge amounts of pollution load in tannery waste waters due to "do-undo" process logics, informed the team.

"The concept of eco-efficiency involves better utilisation of resources with reduced environmental impact. A reduction in the material and energy intensity of goods or services, together with reduced dispersion of toxic materials, and improved re-cyclability & maximum use of renewable resources leading to greater durability of products are the main aspects of eco-efficiency", said J Raghava Rao, of the chemical laboratory.

The new process reduces usage and discharge of chemicals by 68% and 82% respectively.

This apart, the quality of the leather thus produced is comparable if not better than control leather, claimed the team.

Moreover, nearly $52 is saved in processing per metric tonne of raw hides, apart from reducing the effluent treatment costs.