The invention discloses a method for treating an animal substrate comprising: agitating the moistened animal substrate with a treatment formulation and a solid particulate material in a sealed apparatus wherein the treatment formulation comprises a tanning agent or a tannery process agent. The method can comprise applying the tanning agent or tannery process agent to the animal substrate wherein at least some of the agent so applied originates from the treatment formulation. There is also disclosed an animal substrate obtained by the method. The treatment formulation can be aqueous.

The invention concerns a process for tanning hide to obtain leather. The general process for obtaining the intermediary wet blue stage comprises the following steps: a) a picking step with acid and salt, followed by b) a tanning step with chromium salt, followed by c) a basification step. The invention is characterized in that the bath of the pickling step comprises organic acids selected from 2-Methyl glutaric acid (MGA), ethyl succinic acid (ESA) and mixture thereof instead of the traditional strong acid, generally sulfuric acid This process requires less basification agent and enables an increase of the up-taking of the re-tanning products. This invention provides leather with improved mechanical properties.

The invention concerns a process for tanning hide to obtain leather. The general process for obtaining the intermediary wet blue stage comprises the following steps: a) a picking step with acid and salt, followed by b) a tanning step with chromium salt, followed by c) a basification step. The invention is characterized in that the bath of the pickling step comprises organic acids selected from 2-Methyl glutaric acid (MGA), ethyl succinic acid (ESA) and mixture thereof instead of the traditional strong acid, generally sulfuric acid This process requires less basification agent and enables an increase of the up-taking of the re-tanning products. This invention provides leather with improved mechanical properties.

The present invention relates to a process for the tanning of animal hides characterised, compared to currently adopted processes, by the non-adoption of the step known in the industry as pickling. The invention also concerned hides tanned by said process.

The present invention relates to a process for the tanning of animal hides characterised, compared to currently adopted processes, by the non-adoption of the step known in the industry as pickling. The invention also concerned hides tanned by said process.

A recycling process for achieving near-zero emissions of tannery effluent is characterized in that effluent recycling is carried out independently in soaking, liming, re-liming, de-liming bating, pickling chrome tanning, re-tanning, neutralizing, and dyeing procedures. The effluents in the above procedures can be recycled in each step. This process greatly reduces effluent discharge and helps solve the problem of tanning pollution. The process also improves the quality of the finished leather, effectively decreases loose grain rate and increases compactness and fullness of the finished product. The project can reduce chemical material consumption by 15%-55%. For example, the consumption of chromium powder can be reduced up to 65%. Consumption of other chemical materials can be reduced by more than 90%, while certain chemical materials can be essentially completely conserved.

A recycling process for achieving near-zero emissions of tannery effluent is characterized in that effluent recycling is carried out independently in soaking, liming, re-liming, de-liming bating, pickling chrome tanning, re-tanning, neutralizing, and dyeing procedures. The effluents in the above procedures can be recycled in each step. This process greatly reduces effluent discharge and helps solve the problem of tanning pollution. The process also improves the quality of the finished leather, effectively decreases loose grain rate and increases compactness and fullness of the finished product. The project can reduce chemical material consumption by 15%-55%. For example, the consumption of chromium powder can be reduced up to 65%. Consumption of other chemical materials can be reduced by more than 90%, while certain chemical materials can be essentially completely conserved.

Use of probiotic technology to support tanners to reduce waste and increase the value of by-products reducing the need of synthetic chemicals, improving the quality of effluents and reducing the carbon footprint to the environment. Probiotics or beneficial microorganisms are used to obtain biochemicals through a controlled fermentation of natural ingredients. The result of the process is a consortium of metabolites including viable probiotic microorganisms with properties very similar to traditional leather auxiliaries extensively needed during leather production, eliminating or reducing the need for use of toxic chemicals and compositions.

Use of probiotic technology to support tanners to reduce waste and increase the value of by-products reducing the need of synthetic chemicals, improving the quality of effluents and reducing the carbon footprint to the environment. Probiotics or beneficial microorganisms are used to obtain biochemicals through a controlled fermentation of natural ingredients. The result of the process is a consortium of metabolites including viable probiotic microorganisms with properties very similar to traditional leather auxiliaries extensively needed during leather production, eliminating or reducing the need for use of toxic chemicals and compositions.

A recycling process for achieving near-zero emissions of tannery effluent is characterized in that effluent recycling is carried out independently in soaking, liming, re-liming, de-liming bating, pickling chrome tanning, re-tanning, neutralizing, and dyeing procedures. The effluents in the above procedures can be recycled in each step. This process greatly reduces effluent discharge and helps solve the problem of tanning pollution. The process also improves the quality of the finished leather, effectively decreases loose grain rate and increases compactness and fullness of the finished product. The project can reduce chemical material consumption by 15%-55%. For example, the consumption of chromium powder can be reduced up to 65%. Consumption of other chemical materials can be reduced by more than 90%, while certain chemical materials can be essentially completely conserved.