A Study on the Wastewater Profiles from Different Tannery Processes in Batu and Modjo Tanneries, Ethiopia
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Abstract
The tannery industry is a significant source of environmental pollution due to the discharge of untreated or partially treated wastewater containing high levels of organic and inorganic pollutants. This study aims to evaluate and characterize the wastewater generated from different processing stages at Batu and Modjo tanneries in Ethiopia, providing a comprehensive understanding of the pollution profiles associated with each stage. Wastewater samples were collected from key tannery processes, including soaking, liming, deliming, bating, pickling, tanning, and finishing. Each sample was analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters, including pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), sulfides, chromium, and other heavy metals.
The results revealed significant variations in pollutant concentrations across different processing stages, with the liming and tanning stages contributing the highest levels of COD, BOD, and chromium, respectively. The pH of the wastewater also varied considerably, ranging from highly alkaline during the liming stage to acidic during pickling and tanning stages. High concentrations of sulfides were observed in the liming and deliming stages, posing a significant threat to aquatic life and human health. Additionally, the study found that both tanneries had similar wastewater profiles, indicating a common pollution pattern in the Ethiopian tannery industry.
These findings highlight the urgent need for implementing effective wastewater treatment solutions tailored to the specific pollution profiles of each tannery process. The study provides valuable data for policymakers, tannery operators, and environmental agencies to develop targeted strategies for reducing the environmental impact of tannery wastewater in Ethiopia. Further research is recommended to explore sustainable treatment technologies that can effectively mitigate the pollutants identified in this study.
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