Indian state claims new salt-free hide preservation - leatherbiz: Lea Leatherbiz

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Indian state claims new salt-free hide preservation process

20/06/2011
The environment minister for Uttar Pradesh, Jairam Ramesh, has presided at the launch ceremony for what the Indian state describes as a new green technology that will help it improve the quality of the water in the River Ganges thanks to its impact on industrial processes in the region, including leather production.

Uttar Pradesh has large numbers of tanneries in Jajmau, Unnao and Banthar. According to Mr Ramesh, they use a combined total of about 3,000 tonnes of salt each day to preserve 5,000 tonnes of raw hide.

“Close to 90% of this salt finds its way into the Ganges and groundwater, leading to pollution and contamination,” he said.

The environment ministry’s central pollution control board (CPCB) developed the new technology, which centres on a process it calls lyophilisation. It will enable salt-free preservation of hides, CPCB claims. The ministry has said it intends to patent the process.

According to the minister the new process will also mean tanneries use less water. He hinted that the Uttar Pradesh could make use of the new technique compulsory at some point in the future.


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