Chromium Substitution Extraction Method for Its Recovery from Chromium-Tanned Leather Waste

The leather industry generates significant amounts of waste, including chromium-tanned leather waste (CTLW), which poses environmental and health hazards due to chromium's potential toxicity. Efficient management of CTLW is crucial for environmental sustainability and resource recovery. Various methods exist for chromium recovery, including physical, chemical, and biological processes, with chemical methods, particularly substitution extraction using organic acids, showing promising results. This study investigates the use of organic acids for the substitution extraction of chromium from CTLS, with a focus on safety by monitoring the concentration of toxic chromium (VI). It was found that oxalic acid (OA) at a temperature of 43.6 °C and a concentration of 1.34% achieved an extraction efficiency of 63.1% while maintaining minimal hydrolysis at 0.70%. This method offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to chromium extraction from CTLW, addressing a critical need in waste management practices.