SBIR-STTR Award

This research is directed to the development of a first-of-its-kind method for fractionation and recovery of industrially viable plant polyphenols from spent vegetable tanning liquor (a.k.a used color bath), a waste byproduct from the vegetable tanning, and chrome retanning industry. Using a newly developed proprietary process, ten pounds of recovered "active" tannin (SuperReTan)) will be produced from spent tanning liquor (ReTan) using each of four different methods. The products produced from actual byproduct liquors will be examined for their potential commercial use in vegetable tanning and chrome retanning using industry and ASTM standards at the E.H. Hall/Westfield Tanning Company facility in Westfield, Pennsylvania. A fullscale, conceptual engineering design of the recovery process will be produced and an economic cost/benefit analysis of the facility will be made. Recovery and reuse of SuperReTan, will conserve approximately 4 gallons of freshwater per hide tanned (over 1, 000, 000 gallons/year at Westfield alone), and keep this material from entering surface water resources after passing through whatever treatment facility exists between the tannery and the receiving water body.

Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
During Phase I, four samples (10 lb each) of SuperReTan will be recovered and tested for use as a tanning agent. The engineering and economic assessment of the recovery process/facility will determine if the laboratory methods can be scaled-up to full industrial production. If instituted at U.S. tanneries, this recovery process will increase the utilization/competitiveness of three agricultural commodities (raw cattle hides, plant polyphenols, and finished leather) and reduce the water quality impact of this industrial sector.

This project involves the development of a first-of-its-kind method for fractionation and recovery of industrial viable plant polyphenol material from spent tanning liquor (a.k.a. used color bath), a waste byproduct from the vegetable tanning and chrome retanning industry. Using a newly developed proprietary process currently being submitted for a provisional patent, a pilot facility will be built and operated to reclaim 400,000 pounds of active plant polyphenols for tanning, and recycle 160,00 gallons of water from 700,000 gallons of spent tanning liquor. Current scientific, engineering, and economic analyses of the method from the Phase I SBIR project indicate that this recovery system located at a 1,000 hide per day American tannery can save the facility over $200,000 year in avoided virgin tannin purchase, and disposal costs. This process seeks to make our water intensive industry more of a closed- loop and help as to achieve our long standing goal of "near zero" waste. There are many non- monetizable values from recovery of tannins including cleaner water being discharged from tanneries, the more efficient use of forest resources, and the preservation of an authentic American industry that uses exclusively renewable American agricultural resources as their primary raw material (cattle hides) ANTICIPATED RESULTS & POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH During Phase II, a pilot scale tannin recovery facility will be built and operated on-site at the B.H. Hall Westfield Tanning Company, the largest remaining American vegetable leather tannery. If successful the technology can be instituted at other U.S. tanneries, that will increase the utilization/competitiveness of three agricultural commodities (raw cattle hides, plant polyphenols, and finished leather) and reduce the water quality impact of this industrial sector.