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(50-21) Comparison of alternative leather treatment methods using LCA methodology. Bergqvist, Per-Anders*,1, Karaliunaite, Inga1,2, Zaliauskiene, Audrone2, 1 Umea University, Umea, Sweden, Sweden2 Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania, Lithuania ABSTRACT- In this assessment the main leather production processes, i.e. beamhouse and tanning processes has been examined. These processes are one of the main threats for environment. Output flows from the processes could be characterised as wastes containing considerable amount of pollutants such as organic materials (protein degradation products), sulfides, SS, chromium and etc. More than 30 parameters were selected to build up material balance for these processes. Due to complexity of wastewater from leather industry limited analytical data on outputs were produced during the study case. Missing data for complete evaluation of processes inputs and outputs were taken from databases or leather production handbooks. Inventory of inputs and outputs in one of the Lithuanian tanneries showed that environmental impact associated with wet-blue leather (semi-manufactured leather) production was due mainly to the chromium in wastewater. However contribution of unhairing process was also considerable. In the same study two alternative beamhouse methods was compared using inventory analysis. As was expected so called lime-free method has less environmental effect in the terms of eutrophication, greenhouse effect than conventional one using lime and significant amounts of sodium sulfide. However lime-free method contribute to solid waste problem more that conventional method. These viability studies showed that LCA could be a reasonable tool for assessing environmental impact of alternative leather technologies. Key words: LCA, leather, assessment, waste water |
