Synthesis of chromium-containing pigments from chromium recovered from leather waste

Cobalt-chromite green and chrome-tin pink pigments have been prepared from chromium extracted from leather shavings produced as a waste product of the leather-tanning industry. The alkaline agent (NaOH, CaO, MgO, NH4OH) used in the extraction process influences the nature of the final product. The effect of the NH4OH:CaO ratio on the final product in the case of cobalt-chromite green was examined. The pigments obtained were characterized by FT-IR and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Colour measurements were compared with those recorded from materials prepared from pure Cr2O3. The leaching of Cr(VI) from the materials was examined by UV spectroscopy.     

Nitrate and nitrite injection during municipal solid waste anaerobic biodegradation

Nitrified leachate recirculation has been proposed as a promising strategy for sustainable landfill management. In four test reactors, nitrate or nitrite was added (250 mg N-NO(x)(-)L(-1)) during municipal solid waste biodegradation. Nitrogen-oxides reduction reactions were monitored. Denitrification was the main nitrogen reducing reaction observed. On one hand, during the acidogenic waste degradation phase, as high amounts of volatile fatty acids (VFA) were present, nitrogen-oxides reductions were interpreted as heterotrophic denitrifications. On the other hand, denitrification reactions occurring during the late methanogenic phase were accompanied by sulphate productions and, as VFA were not detected, it was probably an autotrophic reaction. Denitrification inhibition was observed once. Ammonium concentration increased suggesting the occurrence of a dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Statistical treatment of analytical data revealed that only H(2)S concentration had a significant negative effect on N(2) production in our system. NO production was observed once when nitrite was injected during the acidogenic phase resulting in a total waste degradation inhibition. These results indicate that the consequences of nitrified leachate recirculation in full-scale landfills need to be carefully examined especially during the acidogenic phase or in the presence of waste containing high quantities of sulphur.     

Compartment model of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation in a municipal solid waste landfill

The mathematical formulations in a one-dimensional compartment model of the biodegradation of organic landfill components are described. The model is designed to switch between anaerobic and aerobic conditions, depending on the local oxygen concentration. The model also includes the effect of environmental factors, such as moisture content, pH, and temperature, on reaction rates. The model includes not only biodegradation processes for carbon compounds (acetate, CO2, CH4), but also for nitrogen compounds involved in nitrification and denitrification due to their significance in landfills. Two example runs to simulate anaerobic and aerobic waste were conducted for a single landfill unit cell by changing the organic content and diffusion coefficient.     

Utilization of a leather industry waste

In the production of leather the main waste that remains after splitting of limed hides before tanning is the lowest layer of the skin together with the underlying fatty tissue (subcutis). It is characterized by a very high water content (up to 870 g kg⁻¹) and a balanced content of protein (40–60 g kg⁻¹ of the dry mass), fat (10–20 g kg⁻¹) of the dry mass) and carbohydrates. The object of this work was to elaborate a method to process this waste into useful products. The treatment proposed involves washing to remove the inorganic salts, separation of fat and extraction of collagen in hot water solution and additional extraction of protein from the insoluble residue after hydrolysis with alkaline proteinase. This results in the isolation of three fractions: fat—cattle tallow (4–12% of the total mass of the initial material), collagen hydrolysate—glue (5–10%) and protein concentrate for fodder (1–3% yield). Up to 95% of the protein in the initial material was extracted. Further purification of the collagen hydrolysate fraction into edible gelatin was achieved. The proposed method is applicable to every leather factory.     

Thermal and enzymatic recovering of proteins from untanned leather waste

The laboratory trials of a process to treat untanned leather waste to isolate valuable protein products are presented. In this comparative study, both thermal and enzymatic treatments of leather waste were performed. The enzymatic method utilizes commercially available alkaline protease at moderate temperatures and for short periods of time. The concentration of the enzyme was 500 units per gram of leather waste which makes the method cost-effective. Amino acid composition in the hydrolysate obtained by the enzyme hydrolysis of untanned leather waste is determined. Chemical and physical properties of protein powder products from untanned leather waste were evaluated by spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods and by use of electron microscope. The results of microbiological assays confirm that these products agree to food safety standards. This relatively simple treatment of untanned leather waste may provide a practical and economical solution to the disposal of potentially dangerous waste.     

Transesterification reaction of the fat originated from solid waste of the leather industry

The leather industry is an industry which generates a large amount of solid and liquid wastes. Most of the solid wastes originate from the pre-tanning processes while half of it comes from the fleshing step. Raw fleshing wastes which mainly consist of protein and fat have almost no recovery option and the disposal is costly. This study outlines the possibility of using the fleshing waste as an oil source for transesterification reaction. The effect of oil/alcohol molar ratio, the amount of catalyst and temperature on ester production was individually investigated and optimum reaction conditions were determined. The fuel properties of the ester product were also studied according to the EN 14214 standard. Cold filter plugging point and oxidation stability have to be improved in order to use the ester product as an alternative fuel candidate. Besides, this product can be used as a feedstock in lubricant production or cosmetic industry.     

Towards zero discharge of chromium-containing leather waste through improved alkali hydrolysis

The treatment of chromium-containing leather waste (CCLW), the major solid waste generated at the post-tanning operations of leather processing, has the potential to generate value-added leather chemicals. Various alkali and enzymatic hydrolysis were compared, and calcium oxide was found to be important for effective (but still incomplete) hydrolysis. Three possible reasons are given for the incomplete hydrolysis under alkaline conditions. Data for 19 amino acids are presented for four different treatment products. On the basis of the results, a novel three-step CCLW treatment process is proposed. The gelatin extracted in the first step is chemically modified to produce leather finishing agents. The collagen hydrolysates isolated in the second step are used as proteinic retanning agents by chemical modification. The remaining chrome cake is further hydrolyzed with acids in the third step, and the obtained chromium-containing protein hydrolysates could be used for the preparation of chromium-containing retanning agents for leather industry. The proposed three-step process provides a feasible zero discharge process for the treatment of CCLW.     

Valorization of leather industry waste in polyurethane composites for reduced flammability

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Industrial wastes are considered a major cause of environmental pollution, and studies on valorizing these wastes and converting them into...     

Leaching behaviour of a chromium smelter waste heap

This paper reports the results of geochemical sampling and modelling of leachates from a chromite ore processing residue (C.O.P.R.) pile under rainwater infiltration. The waste pile is located in the north of England and consists of 800,000 m3 of waste. The pH of fresh leachate is similar to that of a solution in equilibrium with portlandite Ca(OH)2, which is a major constituent of the waste. The in-gassing of CO2(g) causes the pH of the leachates to drop along the drainage ditch and calcite precipitation to occur. The extent of in-gassing is dependent upon the flow rate within the drainage ditch. The dissolution of solid solutions containing residual chromate is likely to control chromate concentrations within the leachate.     

Geotechnical properties of municipal solid waste at different phases of biodegradation

This paper presents the results of laboratory investigation conducted to determine the variation of geotechnical properties of synthetic municipal solid waste (MSW) at different phases of degradation. Synthetic MSW samples were prepared based on the composition of MSW generated in the United States and were degraded in bioreactors with leachate recirculation. Degradation of the synthetic MSW was quantified based on the gas composition and organic content, and the samples exhumed from the bioreactor cells at different phases of degradation were tested for the geotechnical properties. Hydraulic conductivity, compressibility and shear strength of initial and degraded synthetic MSW were all determined at constant initial moisture content of 50% on wet weight basis. Hydraulic conductivity of synthetic MSW was reduced by two orders of magnitude due to degradation. Compression ratio was reduced from 0.34 for initial fresh waste to 0.15 for the mostly degraded waste. Direct shear tests showed that the fresh and degraded synthetic MSW exhibited continuous strength gain with increase in horizontal deformation, with the cohesion increased from 1 kPa for fresh MSW to 16–40 kPa for degraded MSW and the friction angle decreased from 35° for fresh MSW to 28° for degraded MSW. During the triaxial tests under CU condition, the total strength parameters, cohesion and friction angle, were found to vary from 21 to 57 kPa and 1° to 9°, respectively, while the effective strength parameters, cohesion and friction angle varied from 18 to 56 kPa and from 1° to 11°, respectively. Similar to direct shear test results, as the waste degrades an increase in cohesion and slight decrease in friction angle was observed. Decreased friction angle and increased cohesion with increased degradation is believed to be due to the highly cohesive nature of the synthetic MSW. Variation of synthetic MSW properties from this study also suggests that significant changes in geotechnical properties of MSW can occur due to enhanced degradation induced by leachate recirculation.     

Comparison of the food waste degradation rate and microbial community in the matrix between two biodegradation agents in a food waste disposer

To reduce the proportion of food waste in municipal solid waste, a food waste biodegradation experiment with two biodegradation agents was conducted for seven weeks with 500 g of food waste added every day into each disposer. The agent containing four biodegradation bacterial strains showed higher degradation rates and matrix temperatures than that containing two. Furthermore, significant differences in the microbiological community structures of the matrixes were found not only between the two biodegradation systems but also among different stages in the same degradation system based on DGGE profiles. The F2 strain exhibited the highest DGGE optical density (OD) value among biodegradation systems and at all experimental stages, suggesting it was a dominant strain during food waste degradation.     

Impact of sequential hybrid pretreatment in anaerobic digestion of food waste and garden waste co-digestion on waste characteristics and biogas production

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - One-third of food produced results as food waste, with no organized and sustainable disposal, and ends up in landfills. Garden waste is yet another...     

Fungal survival during anaerobic digestion of organic household waste

Anaerobic digestion of organic waste yields energy rich biogas and retains nutrients (N, P, K, S, etc.) in a stabilised residue. For the residue to be used as a soil fertiliser, it must be free from pollutants and harmful microorganisms. Fungal survival during sanitation and anaerobic treatment of source-separated organic household waste and during aerobic storage of the residue obtained was investigated. Decimal reduction times were determined for inoculated fungi (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium roqueforti, Rhizomucor pusillus, Thermoascus crustaceus and Thermomyces lanuginosus). Several different fungal species were found after waste sanitation treatment (70 degrees C, 1 h), with Aspergillus species dominating in non-inoculated waste. Anaerobic waste degradation decreased the diversity of fungal species for processes run at both 37 and 55 degrees C, but not total fungal colony forming units. Fungi surviving the mesophilic anaerobic digestion were mainly thermotolerant Talaromyces and Paecilomyces species. T. crustaceus and T. lanuginosus were the only inoculated fungi to survive the thermophilic anaerobic degradation process. Aerobic storage of both types of anaerobic residues for one month significantly decreased fungal counts.     

Enhancing mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of slaughterhouse waste with household waste under a pilot-scale reactor

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this investigation, mesophilic co-digestion of both slaughterhouse waste (SHW) with household waste (HSW) was carried out using a 50 L...     

Production of new concrete with leather tannery waste used as partial replacement of the natural sand

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Leather production is a technology that boosts the economy because of its versatility and durability. However, the wastes generated throughout the...     

Study on the stability of anaerobic digestion of food waste and the waste mushroom substrate based on SBR reactor and Netlogo simulation

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The combined anaerobic fermentation experiment of the waste mushroom substrate and food waste was carried out at 37 ± 1℃ in...     

Feasibility assessment of thermophilic anaerobic digestion process of food waste

In this study, a lab-scale thermophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste collected from G-district in Seoul was performed to assess its feasibility and applicability in field-scale biogas plants. Monitoring parameters included biogas production, methane composition, pH, alkalinity, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Accumulation of VFA caused successive depression in pH, which inhibited microbial activity of methane-forming microorganisms. Signals of biological instability and inhibition of methanogenesis suggest possible process failure, as indicated by reduction in methane production. Results revealed that modifications in certain conditions, such as decreased organic loading rate (OLR) or additional insertion of alkalinity, must be made for its application in industrial-scale biogas plants, and that thermophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste may not be feasible without any modification.     

固体废弃物在家具产品中的再生利用探析

从家具行业可持续发展角度出发,结合国内外经典案例,阐述了国内家具设计中对固体废弃物利用不足的现状,并从政策、企业、设计者和消费者4个角度,对固体废弃物在家具产品中的再生利用提出建议。