Beamhouse and Tanyard

Biocides 
Biocides prevent the growth of bacteria which can damage the hides or skins during the soaking process

Surfactants
Surfactants are used to help with the wetting back of the hides or skins

Degreasers 
Degreasers help with the removal of natural fats and greases from the hides or skins


Swell regulating agents 
Swell regulating agents help prevent uneven swelling of the hides or skins during liming

Lime
Lime is used to swell the hides or skins

Sodium sulphide 
Sodium sulphide chemically destroys the hair on hides or skins

Sodium hydrosulphide 
Sodium hydrosulphide chemically destroys the hair on hides or skins. It does not create as much swelling as sodium sulphide

Low sulphide unhairing agents 
Low sulphide unhairing agents help to reduce the amount of sulphides used in a tannery thus reducing the environmental impact of tanneries

Caustic soda
Caustic soda is used during the liming process to help swell the hides or skins

Soda ash
Soda ash is used during the soaking or liming processes to help raise the pH of the hides or skins

Ammonium sulphate
Ammonium sulphate is used during the deliming process and helps remove lime from the hides or skins

Ammonium chloride
Ammonium chloride is used during the deliming process and helps remove lime from the hides or skins

Sodium metabisulphite 
Sodium metabisulphite is used during the deliming process and helps prevent the formation of toxic hydrogen sulphide gas during deliming. It also acts as a bleaching agent

Formic acid
Formic acid is used during the pickling process to lower the pH of the hides or skins

Sulphuric acid
Sulphuric acid is used during the pickling process to lower the pH of the hides or skins

Salt
Salt is used during the pickling process to prevent acid swelling of the hides or skins

Sodium formate
Sodium formate is used during the tanning process to assist with the penetration of chromium tanning salts into the hides or skins

Chromium sulphate 
Chromium sulphate is the tanning agent used to make wet blue

Aldehyde tanning agents
Aldehydes are tanning agents used to make wet white

Magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide is used during basification and raises the pH of the hide or skin to allow the chromium or aldehyde to chemically bind to the skin protein

Fungicide
Fungicides are chemicals that are used to prevent the growth of moulds or fungi on tanned hides or skins