Salinity Reduction through Synergetic Substitutes: MgO Aided Low Salt Skin Preservation

Conventionally the raw skins and hides are preserved using sodium chloride in many parts of the world with a quantity of 50- 60% of their weight. Given the quantity of skins and hides processed at the rate of 25,000 tonnes or more per day globally, the amounts of salt to be disposed pose serious environmental concern. Salting still remains the major preservation methodology as it satisfies the major technological and commercial requirements. Given the large amounts of water and chemical pollution discharged during the process, the need to reduce on usage and find alternate techniques is gaining importance. Many successful research efforts carried out on salt free / low salt preservation have not gained commercial acceptance for not meeting one or a combination of requirements. In this study a low salt ? MgO or soda ash substituted skin preservation methodology has been developed and significant economic and environmental benefits were found.