Synthetic wastewater with characteristics matching to the tannery soak liquor was treated using Bacillus circulans. The removal of COD and TKN was 90.48% and 91.12% respectively. IR spectra indicated the presence of conserved peptides. Significant level of bacterial growth and removal of COD and TKN indicated that the amount of conserved peptide was insignificant. Soak liquor was treated using Bacillus circulans and the removal in COD and TKN was 89.5% and 92.1% respectively. The treated soak liquor was clarified and treated using biocide. The salt recovered from the clarified liquor was reused for skin preservation and the preservation efficacy was found to as good as the efficacy of the fresh salt.
Keywords: Saline wastewater, Bacillus circulans, Biological treatment, soaking and Tannery