ALTERNATIVES TO ENERGY RECOVERY OF FATS FROM NATURAL LEATHER

• Published in: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference : SGEM Vol. 17; pp. 313 - 319
• Main Authors: Gheorghe, Coara, Luminita, Albu, Stela, Florescu Margareta, Mocanu, Raluca Catalina, Lazaroiu, Gheorghe
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Sofia Surveying Geology & Mining Ecology Management (SGEM) 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Alcohol; Alternative energy sources; Alternatives; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Biogas; Centrifugation; Centrifuging; Cholesterol; Cosmetics; Economic conditions; Economics; Energy; Energy recovery; Energy storage; Fats; Fatty acids; Incineration; Industrial areas; Iodine; Landfill; Landfills; Leather; Oils & fats; Organic chemistry; Organic matter; Organic wastes; Protein purification; Proteins; Recovery; Separation; Socioeconomic aspects; Sustainability; Tanneries; Tanning industry; Triglycerides; Waste disposal sites; Waste management
• ISSN: 1314-2704
• DOI: 10.5593/sgem2017/51

One of the main environmental issues of society today is the continuous increase in the amount of organic waste. Sustainable organic waste management no longer supports old practices that involved uncontrolled releases, landfill storage or incineration. A potential solution is converting organic matter into energy. Previous papers dealt with energy recovery of animal proteins and fats from tanneries into biogas and biodiesel after separation of the two components by pressing-centrifugation at temperatures of 60-80°C. This paper presents the alternative of fat recovery from natural leather after protein separation in industrial areas such as leather fatliquoring or in the field of cosmetics. These recovery alternatives involve chemicalisation of resulting fats, which is a laborious endeavour, but the socio-economic advantages are more significant and are added to the environmental advantages and sustainability.