WARNING - Delime, bating and pickling processes can release toxic gases - Ammonia or hydrogen sulphides and the appropriate respiratory protective equipment must be worn.
Deliming or more correctly the neutralisation and removal of both bound and unbound lime from the pelts to prepare for the bating and subsequent processes. Problems arise when the process takes too long to reach the required state of neutralisation as classically tested by Phenolphthalein. The delime process and the waste waters so produced can be polluting when using ammonia salts due to atmospheric odours (ammonia) and high nitrogen levels in the waste water.