Efficient Filtration of Tannery Wastewater Using Ceramic Membranes

Abstract

Industrial effluents from leather tanning activities often have a significant pollutant load that is difficult to biodegrade. Decontamination by conventional techniques is in some cases inefficient. The present work aims to study a novel process for enhancing the physical, chemical and microbiological quality as well as to reduce the pollutant load in tannery wastewater. In this process, we applied the tangential microfiltration technique using ceramic membranes with various pore sizes (0.2, 0.4, and 6 μm). According to the obtained results, this process significantly improved the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of the filtered wastewater as compared to the unfiltered one. It demonstrated good filtration efficiencies, in particular reducing (%) total chromium (83), BOD₅ (92), TSS (92), COD (98) and TC (100), which comply with Algerian standards for industrial discharges. Furthermore, ceramic membranes also reduced the intensity of the water colour during the retention step. These findings suggest that microfiltration using ceramic membranes is an efficient method for treating tannery wastewater.