TREATED EFFLUENT REUSE IN THE LEATHER INDUSTRY

Abstract

This research was carried out to evaluate the possibility of reuse of a tannery treated effluent. The experimental procedure compared the production of leather made by the use of drinking water, extracted from artesian wells, to leather produced by the use of the final treated liquid effluent. In order to achieve this goal, physic-chemical tests were carried out in laboratory (chemical and physical resistance analysis) and leather industry professionals performed organoleptic evaluations (for color, grain firmness, filling and touch). The analytical evaluation and the organoleptic properties evaluation do not indicate a statistically significant difference when compared to ABNT reference standards of produced leathers, what allows the researchers to conclude that the reuse of treated effluent does not change the appearance of leather goods.