The basic objective of the studies was to find a technically feasible and economical procedure for treating the wastes from a sole weather vegetable tannery. A detailed identification of the sources of all wastes as well as a comprehensive characterization of each waste fraction was made. It was found that a large percentage of the pollutants initially were contained in a relatively small fraction of the total waste volume. The treatment scheme consisted of separation and pretreatment of the individual waste streams followed by mixing all waste streams for additional treatment in an anaerobic-aerobic lagoon system. The lime bearing wastes from the beamhouse were screened, treated with polyelectrolytes, and then clarified. The lime sludge was used for landfill. The system was designed to treat one million gallons of waste per week. BOD was reduced 85-95 percent and the suspended solids reduction was in excess of 95 percent. Installed cost of the total system was approximately $40,000 and it is estimated that the operating cost will be about $15,000 per year or 7 cents per hide processed. (Author)

"12120---09/70." Prepared for Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Dept. of the Interior under program no. 12120, grant no. WPD-185. Includes bibliographical references. Microfiche.