Treatment of tannery effluents in Leon, Mexico

The leather processing industry is very important for Mexico. In the tanning process large amounts of highly contaminated waste water are produced. The usage of rainwater and the recycling of process water are very important for many companies in reducing the high costs for water and waste water fees.

At Teneria Europea in Leon the discontinuously discharged waste water streams was initially analyzed concerning their contaminant loads. The analysisi has been carried out by BioPlanta and the Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig (Department Bioremediation, Section Phytoremediation). Afterwards the existing facility was optimized and supplemented with a Constructed Wetland. With the help of the secondary treatment the organic load is reduced and a circuitry of process water is possible.

After completing four modules the capacity of the Wetland system now consists of 80 m³ per day.