Lanxess on-site pilot produces one tonne of retanning agent in no time
04/12/2017
Following tests earlier this year, a pilot plant for the idea, which recycles the tanning agent from residual shavings, went fully live at the Heller-Leder tannery in Hehlen at the end of November. Under real operational conditions, the partners found that two cubic-metres of wet white shavings was enough to recover one tonne of X-Biomer.
“This is an important milestone for our technology project,” said Lanxess project manager, Dr Dietrich Tegtmeyer, on making the announcement. “Now it’s time to further refine the technology and to demonstrate the value of the new X-Biomer products in the wide variety of different leather items.”
The joint project, which has ‘Resource-efficient production of leather chemicals’ (ReeL) as its full name, is a co-operation between Lanxess, Heller-Leder and Leverkusen-based research institute INVITE. It is supported by Germany’s federal ministry for education and research. Machinery developed by INVITE can be used on-site at tanneries, allowing leather manufacturers to produce retanning agents on their own using shavings and organic biomass.
The test operation at Heller-Leder will run until the end of 2018.
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