Abstract
STUDIES ON THE USE OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE TREATMENT OF TANNERY INDUSTRY EFFLUENT

In general tannery industries are present in large number when compared to other industries in Tamil Nadu. Efforts are taken to prevent the tannery industry effluent pollution in India, but it is not successful due to so many factors. The 68 tanneries in dindigul, are located within 2 km distance. The tanneries effluents are discharged in to ponds, thereby polluting the ground water sources and cultivable land. The pollution due to tannery effluent is caused by variety of chemicals used in the tanning industries including lime, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, ammonium chloride, sulphuric acid, tannins and dyes. Hence an attempt has been taken to solve the impact of tannery industry pollution by using non conventional energy sources like solar energy. Black body Kadappa stone tank are utilized for evaporation of the tannery industry effluent to zero level discharge of the effluent. Hence it is very useful for the successful effort to ensure zero level discharge. The utilization of overall depth of the primary black kadappa tank is around 9cm to 10cm just like evaporation of sea water on land for the preparation of the salt. By using solar evaporation, the chemicals and salts can be evaporated and recycled.