RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF BRINE IN A HIDE CURING AND FLESHING OPERATION USING MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY

Cattlehide brine curing and rendering processes produce a highly polluting waste stream which contains excessive concentrations of suspended solids, oil/grease, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand. To meet today's more stringent environmental requirements, a more effective technology was investigated. Ultrafiltration is a membrane separation process that can selectively separate components in a solution by using pressure and a semi-permeable membrane. The pressurized solution is passed across the surface of a membrane separating it into two distinct streams known as permeate and concentrate. Studies were carried out with various membranes to determine technical feasibility. A membrane system was designed, built and installed to filter curing brine effluent. The purified brine was analyzed to be pure enough to be returned to the curing process. The concentrate is also recycled and returned to the cooking vessel for further oil reclamation and subsequent solids capture.