New process to minimise chemical, energy use in making leather
conventional leather production consumes high levels of energy and a number of chemicals. The process releases toxic substances. Scientists from Tamil Nadu have developed an enzyme-based technology which minimises all these.
The Central Leather Research Institute (clri) in Chennai says it has evolved a process which cuts down use and release of chemicals by 82 per cent. It has done so by avoiding two key process in leather production, deliming and acidification and saves nearly 40 per cent of energy.
Saving measures Leather production has three stages; pre-tanning, tanning and post-tanning. In the clri method chemicals