Leather processing produces large amounts of toxic waste including shavings, trimmings and fleshings. Much of this sludge is too dangerous to burn because it contains dioxins and nitrogen oxides that are harmful to the environment, so properly disposing of it is a costly and tricky endeavor.
Which is why a team of scientists in the Czech Republic has been hard at work demonstrating that there could be way to make good use of fleshings waste — by turning it into biodiesel.
Fleshings waste has long been considered unsuitable for being converted into fuel because of its high fat content, but the team has found a way to chemically remove the proteins and fat and refine it into a liquid fuel.
They're now hoping to score investors who will help them scale up the process and one day create another viable alternative to petroleum gas.
Video by Reuters.