Recovery and reuse of chromium from leather shavings: formation of chromium-containing ceramic pigments

Berry, F.J.; Costantini, N. and Smart, L.E. (2001). Recovery and reuse of chromium from leather shavings: formation of chromium-containing ceramic pigments. Journal of the American Leather Chemists Association, 96(2) pp. 46–53.

URL: http://www.leatherchemists.org/alca_search.asp

Abstract

Chromium was extracted from leather shavings by treatment with a protease enzyme using either CaO, NaOH, MgO or NH4(OH) as alkaline agents during the treatment. The pigments known as chrome-tin pink and cobalt-chromite green and of composition CaSnSiO5.xCr2O3 and Cr2CoO4 respectively, were synthesized using chromium obtained from the enzyme digested leather shavings. The phase evolution and characterization of the materials has been performed by powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, and UV measurements. Colour measurements showed the chrome-tin pink to be identical to that made from pure Cr2O3. The cobalt-chromite green showed a gradation of colour as a function of firing temperature and on the type and amount of alkaline agent used during the extraction of chromium.

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