Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for tanning animal hides which comprises the steps of: bating and pickling the animal hide in aqueous solution, reducing the liquid content of the animal hide, replacing at least some of the liquid removed from the animal hide in the preceding step by a tanning solution which contains the tanning agent to be imbibed by the animal hide in an amount not exceeding an excess of 80%, and treating the animal hide containing the tanning solution with compressed gas in a pressurized container for a period of at least 15 minutes. Such a process is substantially wastewaterless, optionally even completely wastewaterless, and delivers high-quality through-tanned leathers or furs after short treatment times.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for tanning animal hides which comprises the steps of: bating and pickling the animal hide in aqueous solution, reducing the liquid content of the animal hide, replacing at least some of the liquid removed from the animal hide in the preceding step by a tanning solution which contains the tanning agent to be imbibed by the animal hide in an amount not exceeding an excess of 80%, and treating the animal hide containing the tanning solution with compressed gas in a pressurized container for a period of at least 15 minutes. Such a process is substantially wastewaterless, optionally even completely wastewaterless, and delivers high-quality through-tanned leathers or furs after short treatment times.

Abstract: In order to make processes for finishing animal hides or pelts less labor-intensive and more environmentally compatible, a process is proposed in which, following a conventionally conducted soak, the animal hides or pelts are treated with a conventional tanning solution in which carbon dioxide has been dissolved under pressure. This makes it possible to reduce considerably the period of time usually required for the production of leather or pelts, since the treatment period is reduced markedly. Furthermore, it is possible in this way to combine conventional treatment steps and to conduct them in only one single treatment step. Instead of the 20 to 40 t of waste water per tonne of leather or pelt which are customary with conventional processes, only about 2 t of waste water per tonne of leather or pelt are now produced.