Textile Effluent Treatment Process - Oxidation, Reduction, Electrolytic and Flocculation Methods discussed

In the end of the 1980’s, together with increased environmental awareness within society and industry, “Zero discharge” changed from a technical description of 100% wastewater recycling to a “goal”. The principle of “zero discharge” is recycling of all industrial wastewater. This means that wastewater will be treated and used again in the process. Because of the water reuse wastewater will not be released on the sewer system or surface water.

The U.S. Clean Water Act Amendments even stipulated zero discharge promotion. The goal of the Clean Water Act was to make U.S. waterways fishable and swimmable by 1983 and to achieve zero discharge of pollutants to waterways by 1985. Zero discharge has become effective in specific sectors; agriculture (water reuse for irrigation), semi-conductor and in specific geographical areas; Middle East & Asia, where water shortages have made zero disposal a necessity. (Water reuse in greenhouse horticulture) :

Water reuse in the textile industry

The textile industry is very water intensive. Water is used for cleaning the raw material and for many flushing steps during the whole production. Produced waste water has to be cleaned from, fat, oil, color and other chemicals, which are used during the several production steps. The cleaning process depends on the kind of wastewater (not every plant applies the same production process) and also on the amount of used water. Also not all plants use the same chemicals, especially companies with a special standard (environmental) try to keep water cleaned in all steps of production. So the concepts, to treat the water can differ from each other.

It is quite difficult to define a general quality standard for textile water reuse because of the different requirements of each fiber (silk, cotton, polyester etc.), of the textile process (e.g., scouring, desizing, dyeing, washing, etc.) and because of the different quality required for the final fabric.

It appears to be, that membrane filtration would be a preferable option compared to other wastewater treatment techniques because of the constant quality of effluent, that is partly or almost completely softened and free of color and surfactants.

Read more: http://www.lenntech.com/water_reuse_textile_industry.htm

Zero Discharge - Concept

Water reuse in the textile industry