The conventional treatment system adopted by Indian and Global Tanneries consist of (i) Segregation of Spent Chrome Stream and discharge of supernatant for combined treatment along with effluent from all sectional operations starting from soaking to finishing, (ii) Conventional physiochemical and biological treatment for reduction of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), etc., (iii) Ultra-filtration and Reverse Osmosis (RO) system for recovery of water and Multiple Effect Evaporator (MEE) for the evaporation of RO reject stream and generation of mixed salt in case of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system and (iv) Storage of mixed salt recovered from the MEE system for which no viable disposal system is found. Establishment of treatment system for the mixed stream results in poor performance of biological treatment units, increases the O&M cost, and accumulation of recovered mixed salt in case of ZLD system. It is estimated that, more than 8-10 tons of mixed salt is generated during the treatment of 1.0 MLD effluent under ZLD system. To address this serious environmental problem, an innovative approach of segregation of saline streams such as soak liquor and chrome liquor are planned to be collected separately with the feasibility of recovering reusable quality salt and chromium in the form cake for regeneration and use in the form of Basic Chromium Sulphate (BCS) by the tanneries. This innovative treatment concept has been developed and is being implemented in many CETPs in India. This will become the first of its kind in Global Leather World. This developmental scheme is in accordance with the guidelines and recommendations of UNIDO in terms of sustainability of ZLD system for the leather sector. The technological developments on cleaner productions, centralized chrome recovery reuse system, segregation of saline soak water for separate treatment with recovery of water and quality salt are dealt in this technical paper.
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