Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Zerihun Teshome
Bahir dar university
10/2/2009
SUB.DATE .20/10/2016
ACADEMIC ADIVISOR -Mr. SHUMET TILAHUN
I certify that my work is original and compiled according to the internship report writing
guideline given by the Institute-Industry Linkage office of the Institute.
As the students academic supervisor, I certify that the internship report written by the student is
his original work and compiled according to the guideline provided by the institutes UIL office
as far as my knowledge is concerned.
Shumet Tilahun
..................................... .
Name of the Academic Adivisor Signature Date
Zerihun Teshome
. .
Name of the student Signature Date
I would like to give special thanks goes to my helpful industrial adviser Mr. Birhanu. He gave me
true help for my whole works to be done smoothly and Mr. Shumat Tilaun (Academic Advisor)
He also give me the true help for my work and Ass.prof. Abiyot Gemechu My grateful thank also
goes to for all Modjo tannery s.co workers, operators, laboratory technicians, and stuff. A big
contributions and hard worked from all of them, beside this internship program make me realized
the value of working together as a team and as a new experience in working environment, which
challenges us every day.
No forget, great appreciation go to the rest of the company stuff that help me from time to time
during the internship program. The whole program really brought us together and to know the true
value of friendship and respect of each other. Least but not the last I would like to thanks my
family and friends especially those who works together as inter at Modjo.
The purpose of the internship is to introduce students to the actual working environment and they
will be required to submit a draft report to the university that has been approved by the company.
In addition, students are required to present the internship report. In the first part of my report, I
briefly described the back ground of my internship hosting company. Including the history and
objective of the company, its main products and services, the overall organization and work flow.
Procedures I have used while performing my tasks, are also included in this part of the report. I
tried to explain the step by step procedure.
The second part of my report briefly explains the overall internship experience I have gained
during my practical periods. I started by telling how I get into the company, in which section of
the company I have been working in and the work piece
The challenges I have faced during my internship period, both site challenges and personal
challenges are covered in this report.
The third part of my report briefly explains about the overall benefits I gained from my internship
in terms of improving my practical skills, interpersonal communication skills, team playing skills,
leadership skills, upgrading my theoretical knowledge and work ethics. Finally, I covered my
conclusions and recommendations for my company and university.
Figure 1.2. The management and work flow structure of Modjo tannery.8
Fig1.3 the fruit of apple of Sodom and Collection of apple of Sodom from field.31
Fig-1.4 Ripening buffalo guard fruit and collection of buffalo guard fruit from field.31
Fig-1.5 Leaves of Endod and Collection of Endod leaves plant specimen from the flied.32
Fig.1.6 Cutting of buffalo guard fruit, Sodom apple, Endod using knife crushing and grinding for
preparation of solution for unhairing substance..33
Fig. 1.7 Shows process during soaking skin with prepared solution ..34
Figure.1.8 Shows unhairing solution prepared from local plants removes the hair from skin and
unhairing agents make clean, swell up and knit the skin ..38
List of Table
Table 1.1 Breakdown of the factory building and site.........3
Table 1.2 shows as amount and place collection of unhairing plants31
I have obtained the permission to join the company by applying with the letter from Bahir dar
university, Institute of textile and fashion technology. Modjo tannery has about 401 employed
human powers from these, 200 are males while 101 are females. They include professionals and
workers in management, marketing, technical, medical, security services etc.
Modjo Tannery S.C was established in 1964 by 250,000 birr and consist 230 employers that by
five shares under the name of DOFAN ETHIOPIA Which was owned by DOFAN Company
in France. The objective of DOFAN Ethiopia was to process and export crocodile skins from
Ethiopia to France. As crocodile hunting was banned by the government, the tannery moved to
processing of goat and sheep skins for export.
The tannery was nationalized in 1974 by the Socialist Government of Ethiopia and was renamed
as MODJO TANNERY managed under the control and supervision of national leather and
Shoe Corporation which was dissolved on November 10, 19992. Based on the existing
Government policy, the tannery was again privatized in 2006. Modjo tannery is now PLC. After
privatization, the tannery has grown steadily in its producing capacity and value-added products.
The company was the winner of ISO 9001:2008, Since August 2012 by Ethiopian Conformity
1.3. Location
Modjo tannery has its Head office on the 5th floor of what was once known as the leather and shoe
corporation at Metropolitan, financial and business centre of Addis Ababa National and
commercial banks, post office, rail way station of theatre hall, the Grand palace and Sheraton hotel
etc., are at a working-distance from the head office.
Modjo Tannery is located in Oromia Regional Government, Eastern Shewa Zone, Modjo town
which is 70 kilo meters east of Addis Ababa along the main road to Djibouti. It has its sales shop
and main store in the main market known as MERKATO the largest open market in Africa
about 5km from head office.
The tannery has the theoretical production capacity of 50,000sqft of various leather products per
single shift of 8 hours a day. Currently the Modjo Tannery has 401 workers of which 80% are
engaged in production and technical activities. Its technical personnel were trained /and will be
trained /on time basis for a better transfer of knowledge and for good understanding of customer
requirements.
Modjo Tannery is one of the leaders in Concern of Environmental issue by planting primary
effluent treatment; since 2011 and as well as the production of finished leather using modern
machineries and qualified, experienced and business oriented personnel. It is highly competitive
tannery which is committed to provide customers with quality product on the scheduled delivery
time. The Tannery considers the satisfaction of the customers demand with the production of
quality products suitable for international and local markets and maintains the profitability of the
company in continuous manner.
Production 4,246.73
Office 153.00
Cafeteria 371.00
Clinic 235.20
According to the companys general management, the business mission of the company is to
play a leading role in the domestic and export markets for tannery products. The companys
business plan is based on the principles of market oriented strategic planning, and not only
longer on production issue .The transition of Modjo tannery into a market oriented manufacture
requires ongoing training programs for all staff in the area of marketing and sales, production
logistics, quality control and assurance and general managements . Provide hide and skin products
by quality and quantity for both international or export and domestic market and also to provide
leathers as the users need.
The consultant has assessed during his survey that the principle of the market oriented strategic
planning have not yet been followed by the company that consultant strongly recommends to the
companys management and general manager to do so. The marketing process consists of the
following steps:
The marketing of hides and skins starts at the producer/consumer level and passes through
achain of middle men until it reaches the Modjo tannery. The market chain for hides and skins
consist of the primary producer/consumers, who are the initial source (individual meat
consumer,rural slaughters slabs, municipal slaughters house, meat processing plants, agents of
traders collectors, regional medium/small traders regional(Addis Ababa big traders).The
individual consumers who kill in their back yard sell the hides skins either to agent collector or
directly to regional small/medium traders.After preservation air drying or wet salting the
hides/skins are passed on to big trader and then to the tanneries s the tanneries can be supplied
directly from the slaughters premise regional big traders. The tannery processes the hides/skins
received from their supplies either in the green (fresh) orfinished stages for both local and export
market
Regional
small/medium
Collector traders
Agent Tanneries
s
Regional big
trades
Local market
Figure 1.1 the market structure for raw hides and skins
Grading measurement (first, second, third fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh (reject)
Sizing measurement
Chemicals
PH indicators
Wastage equipments (which used to remove the wastes)
Jimma
Tigrayi
Waliyata soddo
Diredaw
Assella
Hawasa
Addis Ababa
The raw material purchased by the company should meet in principal the following requirement.
Glove: almost all of the sheep leathers are used for glove production because sheep leather is
naturally soft enough and better for glove-since they are produced only for export markets each
and every process from soaking to finishing is sensitive and requires greater care. The type of
Shoe upper: is the upper coverage of leather shoe produced from hide the shoe upper includes
pull up, waxy, through dyed, softy, new pull up smooth and patent leather.
Lining: is the leather used to make the internal part of shoe. It includes skin lining and hides lining.
Garment leather: are leather used to made leather jacket. In addition to these; belt lathers
Domestic customers:-
Ambessa shoes
Pickok shoes company
Adama garment
Nyala
Merkato market
1.9. Overall organizational structure of Modjo tannery share company
The company has four department and four services
I/ Administration department
II/ Finance department
III/ Commercial department
IV/ Production & technical department
The four services
1. Planning & information services
2. Quality control services
3. Store and property administration services
4. Audit services
The general manager and head of the audit services are accountable to the board of director.
HEAD OFFICE
GENERAL MANAGER
Cost Budget
Curing is a process that prevents the decomposition of hides and skins from the time they are
flayed in the abattoir until the processes in the beam house begin. Whenever a raw material cannot
be processed immediately it must be cured. Popular methods of long term preservation are salting
and drying. Methods for short-term preservation (2-5 days) are cooling, using crushed ice or
refrigerated storage, and biocides. Curing is done in the abattoir, at the hide market, or at the
tannery. In certain cases it might be necessary to repeat the step in the tannery, e.g., chilled
hides can be salted for longer storage or if salting was not efficient enough.
Purpose
Temperature
Low temperature (<150C): slows down the soaking process and reduces the water
absorption of the hides/skins
High temperature (>280C): high bacterial growth, hydrolytic degradation of skin/hide
substance resulting in tinny leather quality
Time (18-20hrs, depending on the article produced)
Short soaking time: hard, tiny texture of the leather
Longer soaking time: Vein marks and Putrefaction
Rpm (usually 3)
Float length
Short floats: insufficient distribution of chemicals
Longer floats: reduces the effect of the chemicals
Soaking defects
Minor damage due to putrefaction: observed by putrid smell, lusterless or blind sections
in the grain of the leather
Serious bacterial damage: Noticed by initial hair slip and revealed by loose grain and
reduced firmness
Heavy putrefaction: Noticed by holes, putrefaction marks on the grain and complete
loosening of the grain layer
1.13.2. Liming
Here, soaked hides and skins are treated with dehairing agent (sodium sulfide/sodium sulphydrate)
and lime powder
Chemicals used: sodium sulfide/sodium sulphydrate, Lime powder and liming auxiliary (to
facilitate liming operation)
Purpose
To remove hair and non-structural proteins
To open up the fibers and ease the penetration of chemicals in the subsequent operation
1.13.3. Unhairing methods
A) Hair saving
Used to recover the wool. Reduces the BOD and the solid waste. This is done by painting the skins
using a solution containing sodium sulphide/sodium sulphydrate and lime powder.
Next day add lime powder until the 0Be of the solution is 26 0Be____
Mix very well and apply on the flesh side of properly drained skins
Pile flesh to flesh for 3-4hours and remove the hair mechanically (by hand or machine)
B) Hair burning
The soaked skins are placed in to a drum containing sodium sulphide/sodium sulphydrate, lime
powder and liming auxiliary. This method saves time but affects the environment negatively by
loading the Effluent treatment plant.
Liming defects
Effects
Effects
iii. Lime stains/ lime blasts: This is the deposit of insoluble calcium salts on the skin or
hide. This is caused when
Skins are left for longer time in an open air
Skins are not fully covered with lime liquor
Using hard water (bicarbonate hardness)
Effects
iv. Sulphide stains: this is caused due to the presence of iron in the sulphide
Remedies: use iron free liming chemicals
v. Growth marks/wrinkled grain: This is observed by something like false backs. This is
caused by:
Uneven curing effect
Over loaded liming drums
Residue of some flesh and fat in some sections of the skin/hide
High concentration of liming chemicals
Intensive swelling at low temperatures
presence of longer hair
Remedies
Preliminary fleshing
Mild liming (addition of liming chemicals portion by portion)
1.13.4. Deliming
As its name indicates this operation is aimed at removing the lime from the pelt and reduce the pH
of the pelt and make ready for pickling
Purpose: to remove the lime in the limed pelt and to adjust the pH for bating operation
Methods of deliming
A) Dry deliming (use 20-30% water and add the deliming agents)
B) Conventional deliming method (use 100-150% water and add the deliming agents)
Deliming formulation
Cut a cross-section and use drops of phenolphthalein. If the color is light pink or color less,
deliming is complete.
Defects in deliming
i. Inadequate deliming
Results in leather which is tight and too hard
ii. Damage to the grain: this is caused due to
Effect
Damaged grain
Cracky grain
Reduced breaking strength
1.14.4. Bating
Chemicals used: Alkaline bates (Example Basozyme CH, Basozyme s-20 from BASF)
Purpose: To open up the structure of collagen fibers and to remove the hair root/ scud/ short hair.
The longer the bating process the softer and less wrinkled is the leather
NB: The concentration of bating enzyme and duration varies depending on the desired effect on
the final leather and the type of input raw material used.
Temperature (30-350C)
pH (8-9)
Time (45minutes to hors based on the article produced)
Float length
Enzyme concentration(1-1.5% depending on the active matter of the enzyme employed)
Completion of bating
A) Thumb test: the impression remains for some time on the surface. This is done for cow
hides
B) Air permeability test: air permeates through the porous hair roots. This is done for sheep
and goat products
Defects in bating
Effect
Effects
Remedies: Carry out bating at low enzyme concentration, low temperature for
longer time
iii. High grain/ Goose-flesh grain: This is caused on goat skins when hot-bated pelts are
put in to cold water directly.
1.13.5. Degreasing
Here the natural fat is removed from the pelt matrix. This enhances the penetration of
chemicals in the subsequent operations
Degreaser concentration varies depending on the raw material used.
For example:
Defects of degreasing
i. Fatty spew: This is observed as white crystalline coating on the finished leathers mainly
on chrome tanned leathers after prolonged storage. This is caused due to the presence
high content of natural fat, especially free fatty acids.
Remedies: Proper degreasing process and contacting with heat to melt the coating. This can
also be avoided by rubbing with cloth soaked in fat solvent (petroleum or kerosene)
ii. Fat stains: formation of oily dark-colored stains mostly found on the neck and back of
sheep skins. These defects cannot be avoided once they form insoluble soap with lime
or chrome.
iii. Fat grooves: Observed by raised parallel strips running from the back to the flanks on
fine-wooled sheep skins. This is observed mainly on the neck and shoulder regions.
Remedies: Not possible if the grooves are prominent. Intensive degreasing is necessary
1.13.6. Pickling
In this operation, the de limed pelt are treated with acid solutions of formic acid and sulfuric acid
to a pH values of 2.8-3.0
Purpose
To prepare the pelt for tanning
To preserve the pelt for longer periods up to 6months
To open up the structure of collagen fiber and make softer leather such as glove
leather
Attention: Take care of acid swelling. Because this could occur when the acid mixture is added to
a liquor containing low salt concentration (<60Be).
Add 0.8% Sulphuric Acid2*10+30, Check pH (2.8-3.0 for chrome tanning) and 4.5 for
vegetable tanning
Defects in pickling
1.13.7. Tanning
Tanning is an irreversible stabilization of the hides and skins which are prone to putrefaction here,
the pickled pelts are treated with the salts of chromium, aluminium, zinc and Zirconium. In
addition, the pickled pelts are treated with vegetable extracts such as mimosa and quebracho. To
avoid surface tannage, we usually add sodium formate before the addition of chromium
Purpose: To increase the resistance of the leather against hot water (thermal resistance), chemical
(chemical resistance) and bacterial degradation.
Treatment of the wet blue leather with alkalis such as sodium formate and sodium bicarbonate.
This helps us to fix the chrome in to the collagen fibers. Here the basicity of the chrome tannage
reaches 50-60%.
Attention
Add the basifying agents portion by portion to avoid sudden pH changes or precipitation. It is
advisable to add masking agents such as sodium formate to avoid this problem.
To slows down the bonding of tanning agent and hence achieve complete penetration of
tanning material
To Prevent the flocculation of the tanning agent by alkalis
Improves exhaustion of chrome bath
The products obtained
Wet blue (from chrome tanning)- b/c the color imparted to the leather is blue
Wet white (from aluminium and zinc tanning)- b/c the color imparted to the leather
is white
Purpose of ageing: to enhance the cross linking of the tanning agent and collagen
fibers
Parameters to be controlled during tanning
Concentration of chrome or vegetable tanning agents
pH of tanning liquor
Float length
Time
Concentration of sodium bicarbonate during basification
Neutralization
To neutralize acid
To promote combination
To accelerate the hydrolysis and combination of chrome salt in leather.
Neutralization time is decided by neutralizing system. But can vary from 30 to overnight
which means more than 12 hours.
Chemicals for neutralization:-
Neutralizing syntan naphthalene
Weak alkali salt sodium formate, acetate, sodium sulphite, sodium
thiosulphate.
Strong alkali salt sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate
Fat liquoring
1.15. Finishing
The term finishing is used in tannery to describe a series of process and operations which
improve the properties and attractive materials. It is the final chemicals and mechanical treatments
of leather before manufacturing of end products. As they are naturally different, finishing of
leathers before manufacturing of ends products. As they are naturally different, finishing of
leathers from Hide and that from skin are undergone the same finishing operation.
The main purpose of finishing is to give a treatment of the grain surface to protect it against a dirt,
staining, wetting, mechanical stresses like rubbing, scuffing, flexing, etc. To improve the quality
of crust by covering the defects of crust surface; to give the crust surface the desired colour; to
give crust surface the fashionable effects.
In Ethiopia hides and skins contribute much to the export earnings from the livestock sector. In
addition, it has a large contribution to the leather industry in the country. Livestock hide and skin
contribute significant proportion of domestic leather. According Girma (2003) reported that,
Ethiopia has been exporting hides and skins in the past 100 years. The country has big potential to
develop the sub-sector. In 2002, hides and skins represent major source of foreign exchange
earnings for the country accounting for 14-16% of the total export revenue
Hides and skins are the basic raw materials for the leather industry. Currently there are about 27
tanneries in the country and have an average capacity of 4,000 pieces of hides and 30,000 pieces
of skins per day (EEA, 2007/08). However, they are working under capacity even if the country
has a potential to supply around 20 million pieces of hides and skins per annum. The potential
supply of hide and skins depend on the scale of meat production, not on the size of livestock
population
The leather industry processes raw hides and skins and produces semi-processed and finished
leather for both export and local consumption. The industries are also sources of employment. This
is why the sector needs great attention by the government and all concerned stakeholders. [2] (1-
14pp)
Considering the development potential and economic importance of hides and skins, in the last
few years, the government of Ethiopia has launched different development programs aimed to
increase the supply and improve the quality of the raw material.
Because of this development interventions, hides, skins and the leather industry are still
constrained by and production of the poor quality of raw materials, lack of an efficient market
Tanning is the process of treating skins and hides of animals to produce leather, which is more
durable and less susceptible to decomposition. A tannery is the term for a place where the skins
are processed. Tanning is a process of skin and hide into leather involves a process which
permanently alters the protein structure of skin. Tanning can be performed with either vegetable
or mineral methods. Before tanning, the skins are unhaired, degreased, desalted and soaked in
water over a period of 6 hours to 2 days.
The weakening of hair is dependent on the breakdown of the disulfide link of the amino acid
cysteine, which is the characteristic of the keratin class of proteins that gives strength to hair
and wools (keratin typically makes up 90% of the dry weight of hair). The hydrogen atoms
supplied by the sharpening agent weaken the cystine molecular link whereby the covalent disulfide
bond links are ultimately ruptured, weakening the keratin. To some extent, sharpening also
contributes to unhairing, as it tends to break down the hair proteins
Unhairing agents used at this time include sodium sulfide, sodium hydroxide, sodium
hydrosulfite, calcium hydrosulfide, dimethyl amine, and sodium sulfhydrate. The majority of hair
is then removed mechanically, initially with a machine and then by hand using a dull knife, a
process known as scudding
Chemical used for unhairing agents cause environmental pollution when released from leather
industry without treatment. The cost and waste treatment of chemical for unhairing process of
hide and skin requires further save and economical feasible technological improvement
Therefore, research studies are needed on the basis of eco-friendly sustainable processing and
production and hide and skin for Quality management strategies to foster sustainable development
is important .
This research work aimed to investigate and assess unhairing substance from locally available
plant sources to alleviate pollution problem, waste treatment cost of leather industry because of
sulfur containing chemical utilization for unhairing purpose. Furthermore, this scientific study
aims to discover unhairing substance from local plant sources and determine the potential for
In many civilizations around the world, animal leather was processed and used for various
purposes since time immemorial. Nowadays increase of utilitarian value; social changes and
population growth of the country possess the need for the additional demand for leather product.
However, the processing of hide and skin for mass production of leather products cause
environmental pollution due to waste discharge to their surroundings . Therefore, the struggling
for environmental friendly hide and skin processing is the key issue for sustainable production and
sustainable development (Figveria (1999). Gustavson.1997).
Taken this in to consideration this mini apparent project or study is to assesses and investigate
substances prepared from locally available plant sources used for unhairing agent of leather is very
important for replacing unhairing chemical so that it mitigates the environmental pollution caused
by leather tannery. In addition to this, it reduces or solves treatment and imported cost of the
chemicals used in leather industry in our country, provided that further scientific study will be
carried out at large scale. Therefore, this study shows environmentally and economical feasible
potential of substance used for unhairing purpose from local source to foster environmentally and
economical sound sustainable development in leather industries. However, this study has the
following limitations.
Lack of written document, Lack of expertise and guidelines that initiate such scientific work
regarding in leather industry sectors
Buffalo gourd plant species belongs to Curcubitiacea family with scientific name Cucurbita
foetidissima. People have applied a variety of common names to them including, Missouri gourd,
Buffalo Gourd, Calabazilla, Wild Gourd, coyote ear, and Wild Pumpkin. From personal
observation, Buffalo gourd is widespread in open disturbed areas in roadsides and in dry or sandy
areas in Arsi zone, Oromia National Regional state. It has a local name Buqe sexanna in Afan
The geographical range of Buffalo Gourds extends to southwestward from the north-central United
States into much of the southwestern United States and southward into central Mexico. The roots,
stems, and leaves of buffalo guard were used for a variety of medicinal needs (Dodson, 2012;
NAE. 2013).
The large, roughly triangular leaves of this plant are coarse, almost leathery, and emit what many
consider an offensive odor when brushed against. Both the root and the fruit/seed of the buffalo
gourd were utilized by indigenous North Americans. They valued the root for its medicinal
properties, and the seeds as a food source. The fruit and roots contain cucurbitacins, a group of
triterpenoid glycosides that imparts a very bitter taste, and that can be poisonous in high
concentrations. The buffalo gourd, is rich in cucurbitacin and consumption of this plant requires
some processing. Although there are accounts of other parts being consumed, most references
mention only the seeds as a food source. The shell of the gourd, the leaves and stems, and the root
had other applications. For instance, the root and gourds used as soap and bleach. Rubbing of the
dried fruit onto stains on hides and clothes before washing is effective to remove dirty (USDA.
2013; NAE. 2013.)
The foul-tasting mature fruit is poisonous to humans if eaten. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a
persons age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most
vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. Toxicity can vary in a plant according to
season, the plants different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances,
such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil [5]( page-465-466)
Tanneries are often associated with the characteristic and obnoxious "sulfide smell", which is in
fact caused by low concentrations of sulfhydric gas, also known as hydrogen sulfide. Levels as
low as 0.2 ppm of H2S are already unpleasant for humans and a concentration of 20 ppm is
unbearable. .As beam house and tanning are often done in the same facility, smell is actually the
lesser problem. Through human errors, this always holds the danger of mixing acidic floats with
the sulfide containing beam house float and releasing higher amounts of H2S. At a level of 500
Fig 1.3 the fruit of apple of Sodom (A) and Collection of apple of Sodom from field (B)
Fig-1.4 Ripening buffalo guard fruit and collection of buffalo guard fruit from field (D)
2.6.2. Method
Fig. 1.7 Shows process during soaking skin with prepared solution
From the plants Solanum incanum fruits, Cucurbita foetidissima fruits and Phytolacca dodecandra
we can obtain the following products.
Table1.4 shows as amount extraction of solution form plants.
Plant species Amount of Main product of Waste extract from
plant taken per kg solution extract from plants.
plants.
Solanum incanum 0.5kg 0.25kg 0.25kg
Cucurbita 0.4kg 0.1kg
foetidissima 0.5kg
Phytolacca 0.75kg 0.5kg 0.25kg
dodecandra
Solution prepared from the fruits of Solanum incanum, Cucurbita foetidissima and leaves of
Phytolacca dodecandra for unhairing agent eco-friendly product do not cause pollution thus dont
need treatment plant. Therefore, it has a potential to solve pollution problem of leather industries
and avoid treatment cost in addition to this the cost of unhairing agent such as sodium sulphide
,sodium hydrosulphide which currently available on the market is very high when compare it
within the solution which prepared from Solanum incanum, Cucurbita foetidissima and leaves of
Phytolacca dodecandra.
Table 1.5 show as amount of chemical and cost for 1peices skin when used unhairing agent current
(NaS) available on the market.
No Name of chemical Amount chemical used Cost/birr
kg/l
1 sodium sulphide 0.05kg/l 1.075birr
2 sodium sulphydrate 0.15kg/l 3.5175birr
3 lime powder 0.26kg/l 0.8586birr
4 Total 0.46kg/l 5.4636birr
But unhairing agents which prepared from local plants is free from environmental pollution and
low costs.
The difference cost between local unhairing agents between unhairing agents currently available
on market for one skin is calculated in the following from.
Unhairing agents currently available on market -local unhairing agents which prepared from local
plants.
5.4505birr-2.308birr
3.1425birr difference
So we can save 9,427.5 birr during one process. That means 1 drum contain 3000skin
3000skin x 3.1425birr
9,427.5birr
Our country has a potential to supply around 20 million pieces of hides and skins per annum. So
we can save 3.1425x20000000=62,850,000 birr
The solution prepared from local plant namely the fruits of Solanum incanum, Cucurbita
foetidissima and leaves of Phytolacca dodecandra with added lime powder is effectively removes
hair from skin. In addition to removing hair it also makes the leather knit clean and bloating much
less obnoxious smells, substantially reduced load on the environment - sulphide, nitrogen, carbon
oxygen demand, sludge, optimized and more consistent yield in lay-out, cutting and leather quality,
A B
Figure.1.8 Shows unhairing solution prepared from local plants removes the hair from skin (A)
And unhairing agents make clean, swell up and knit the skin (B)
Unhairing chemicals currently used in leather industry such as sodium sulphydrate and sodium
sulphide are expensive, and they caused pollution problem when released to environment since
they are sulfur containing compounds. Each leather industry should treat the waste and the
treatment cost is very high. Solution prepared from the fruits of Solanum incanum, Cucurbita
foetidissima and leaves of Phytolacca dodecandra for unhairing agent eco-friendly product do not
cause pollution thus dont need treatment plant. Therefore, it has a potential to solve pollution
problem of leather industries and avoid treatment cost. In addition to this it is very cheap compared
to chemicals for unhairing agents since the plants are available. According to this scientific work,
300-400ml solution of Solanum incanum, Cucurbita foetidissima and leaves of Phytolacca
dodecandra is enough to remove hair for one skin which cost approximately only 1-2 ET. Birr
Based on this mini scientific work the following points are recommended:
Since Research in the hides and skins sector is weak in Ethiopia. Our university Research
programs need to be formulated, rationalized and prioritized with stakeholders participation
to ensure our the countrys strategic research interests in the hides and skins industry are
addressed
Further scientific studies and experiments are needed to determine the chemical composition
of the plants to extract eco -friendly compound used for unhairing purpose that is scientifically
sound
Integration of indigenous knowledge into the development of improved technologies for hides
and skins is important
Practical skills
Theoretical knowledge
Interpersonal skill
Team playing skill
Leadership skill
Work ethics
Theoretical knowledge .The benefit of the internship program in terms of theoretical knowledge
development is immense. I have been thought so many things beyond the course I taken during
my Four year leather engineering study program. And also use the courses in practical skill of my
work tasks.
Team playing skills I developed group working with company workers and with students from
other universities. Even though there is no team task given for me, my project mate was one of the
way which teach me how to cooperate and work together to solve problems in cost and time
effective way. In the research and development teams meeting I see how staffs:
Leadership skills .It is inefficient difficult to manage peoples by rigid rules and regulations. I
understood that is better to initiate lead, motivate and inspire workers instead of monitoring and
regulating them.
Work Ethics .I have to obey the machines working instruction, working time and the like. It is also
expected from us to sacrifice our time and knowledge to solve problem when it occurred.
Entrepreneurship skills .I have motivated to generate idea of producing useful things from tannery
wastes, for instance, production of glue and generating of biogas plant from lime splitting and
fleshing wastes; production of leather board and fertilizer from shaving dust and trimmings.
3.7. Conclusion
The internship helps not only me, but also the workers in the industry like the Formans, the daily
labors and all in general. While I have there the workers went to know some theoretical skills that
I learned from university. They were asking me in detail and I answer them with great pleasure
while they shared me their practical skills many leather making chemicals are very dangerous to
health problem; even death, so not only in Modjo tannery but also in every industry, safety methods
should not be allowed to worker without full safety equipment in working places it important to
know the technical industry instruction and languages, because with the employers in the project
so I want to give my greatest appreciation to both the skilled and unskilled workers who
participated in this leather industry.
Permanganate is used to complement the aeration process that is normally part of the facility
wastewater pretreatment process. Application point depends on the type of wastewater treatment
system and other complementary chemical technologies that are being employed.
3.8. Recommendation
Modjo tannery does it best in providing the market with high quality leather, through the way of
working is tough since most of the machines are not computerized. The workers have to wait for
each process. Instead if it was computerize in the drum can be added in definite amount. The helps
in economizing the water supply. In addition to this here are many things that have to be taken
under consideration. This includes: Steam from some machines is simply released to air. I
recommended that, it can be used for heating water for boilers or can be recycled by condensation.
This economizes the power consumption for steam generation.
The west treatment of Modjo tannery is used primary treatment but it cannot works
functionally; they must Appling secondary and tertiary treatment for more pure effluent.
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