Sodium sulphate as a curing agent to reduce saline chloride ions in the tannery effluent at Kanpur: A preliminary study on techno-economic feasibility

The possibility of using sodium sulphate (SS) as a curing agent in tanneries in place of sodium chloride (SC) was studied on the preservation efficacy of the curing agent, the effect of experimental curing agent on the fibre structure, efficiency of sodium sulphate towards the quality of leather, determining the chrome tannin and degree of tannage (for vegetable tannin) in the processed leather, pretreated with control and experimental salt. The use of SS not only decreased the salinity in the tannery effluent but also caused one-sided striation on the epidermal layer of the hide by SS: SC mixture as shown in scanning electron micrographs (SEM) and above all it also attributes aesthetic look to the finished leather.