INVESTIGATING PROCESS WATER PROPERTIES FROM DIFFERENT LEATHER INDUSTRY ZONES OF TURKEY

Abstract

All the physical and chemical processes in leather production from soaking till dyeing-fatliquoring stages take place in water as medium. Water is also used as carrier for the chemicals in subsequent finishing processes. In leather production many kinds of chemicals are being used in processes. These chemicals are penetrated and chemically bounded to leather collagen in water medium. Therefore, the nature and quality of the process water used in leather industry is crucial. The pH, calcium and magnesium salts, other inorganic salts and organic matters usually affects the chemical reactions, especially in bating, pickling, tanning, dyeing and fatliquoring stages. Thus, determination of the properties of process water used in industry and reveal their affect in leather production is very important. In the present study process water samples were taken from leather industrial zones located in Izmir, Istanbul, Usak, Gerede, Corlu and Bursa regions in Turkiye. Subsequently, the water parameters such as; pH, conductivity, total hardness, permanent hardness, temporary hardness, chloride, nitrate levels as well as the inorganic constituents i.e. natrium, potassium, magnesium, lead, manganese, iron, aluminum, chromium, zinc, copper and nickel were determinated. In this way the properties of the process water used in different leather industrial zones were documented and their possible effects on the regional leather production processes and leather quality have been discussed.

Keywords

• Leather industry
• leather production
• process water
• water quality
• water hardness
• ICP-OES