Desalination 200 (2006) 419420

Nanofiltration process applied to the tannery solutions

M. Taleb Ahmeda*, S. Tahab, T. Chaabanea, D. Akretchec,
R. Maachia, G. Dorangeb
a

USTHB/FGM_GP/GE/Alger, Algeria
email: mdtaleb_ fr@yahoo.fr
b
ENSCRennes Chimie des Eaux et de lEnvironnement, LARCIP/LPS, Campus de Beaulieu, Rennes1
c
Facult de Chimie/USTHB/Alger, Algeria
Received 27 October 2005; accepted 3 March 2006

Abstract
We propose in this study the effectiveness of an organic membrane Nanomax50 charged negatively on
complex solution tanneries. Our choice was made on the solutions of tanning and liming of the tannery tawing of
Rouba/Algiers because of the nature of the substances which they contain, namely chromium and sulphides.
Initially, of the pretreatments by precipitation and coagulation flocculation respectively with the solutions of
tanning and liming are planned in order to avoid the filling of the membrane. The products used at these stages are
FeSO4HClCa(OH)2. After each stage of pretreatment, the Nanofiltration is used in order to study the behavior
of the membrane with respect to the composition of the solution with various stages.
The parameters of studies under consideration in this study are as follows: pH, electric conductivity, turbidity,
concentration chromium plate some by atomic absorption.
Keywords: Tannery; Precipitation; Chromium; Sulphide; Nanofiltration; Organic membrane

1. Experimental protocol
In order to locate composition of the various
solutions the tannery has, we took measurements of certain parameters in the baths of tanning and liming. The results of analysis are
mentioned by the table.
The pretreatment of the two baths gives an
importance effectiveness of reduction of the
three principal elements to knowing chromium
the proteins and the sulphides.
*Corresponding author.

The results obtained starting from the experiments made on the solution of tanning, shows an
almost total elimination of chromium.
Contrary to the tanning solution, that of the
liming bath requires a treatment because of the
complexity of its composition.
2. Interpretation and conclusion
The physicochemical treatment concerning
the bath of tanning made it possible to eliminate
the near total from chromium (precipitation by

Presented at EUROMEMBRANE 2006, 2428 September 2006, Giardini Naxos, Italy.

0011-9164/06/$ See front matter 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.
doi:10.1016/j.desal.2006.03.354

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M.T. Ahmed et al. / Desalination 200 (2006) 419420

Parameters

Tanning
solution

Liming
solution

pH
Conductivity (mS/cm)
Turbidity (NTU)
MES (mg/L)
DCO (mg/L)
Chrome total (mg/L)
Sulphide (mg/L)
DBO5 (mg/L)

3.43
58.5
19.9
30008000
835015000
>5000

12.34
11.3
1175
70000
1010030500

300900
900

adjustment of pH). The refining of this bath by

the nanofiltration, gives a total ionic retention in
order 40%.
Liming bath charged of sulphides compounds
was treated in two stages by precipitation, then
the supernatant was nanofiltred. The solution of
the liming bath being a basic medium, this one
is acidified towards a value of pH approximately
regale at 3 in order to precipitating the matter of
proteins. After this operation, a second adjustment
of pH towards 5 enabled us to precipitate sulphides. Part of the supernatant obtained was
nanofiltred, on the other hand the second part
its pH is adjusted to 8 and we still note that a
precipitation is obtained. The supernatant which
results from this last operation was in its nanofiltered. For this last operation, the nanofiltration
gives us a total ionic retention about 40%.
The physicochemical treatment of the two
baths made it possible to eliminate the near total
forms of divalent and trivalent charge elements
present in the solution.
The nanofiltration is well adapted to refine
this type of solution. The differentiation of the
retention between ions is a function of the load
and the ionic size, pH of the solution, the exerted
pressure. The effectiveness of the organic membrane proves better to adapt especially that with
each stage of pretreatment the composition of
the solution changes and consequently gives place

to apply the membrane process for this type of

solution.
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