Measurement of Bacterial Populations in Typical Tannery Soak Solutions by Traditional and New Approaches

Abstract

It has been well documented that bacteria will readily proliferate during the typical soaking process if left unchecked. Tanners are rightfully concerned about the extent of biological activity in their soaking process and the impact this can have on the grain integrity and strength of the resulting leather. However, inquiries such as what level of microbial activity is a cause for alarm or is there a threshold activity limit below which it can be considered acceptable abound. A project was undertaken to survey several of the largest beamhouses in the USA to determine the level of microbial activity at each location as well as differences in nature of the raw material utilized and the type of control programs in place (if any). Data was collected utilizing traditional and new techniques for measurement. The results are analyzed and conclusions are drawn regarding the extent of biological activity present in typical operating conditions in the different tanneries studied.