An Integrated Process Development for Treatment of Textile Effluent Involving Ceramic Membrane-Driven Ultrafiltration and Biosorption

Abstract

Textile industries are one of the largest water consuming sectors and wastewater is produced in various steps like pretreatment, dyeing, washing and finishing, etc. Effluent from such industries contains a large amount of unfixed dyes, auxiliary chemicals, alkalis and salt which can cause significant pollution of the surface and groundwater if not adequately treated. The present study is focussed on process development for dye and COD removal from such wastewater using an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach. An integrated process has been used involving application of ceramic UF membrane and biosorptive treatment. Effluent was collected from a textile dyehouse having pH of 12.27, TDS value 38.22 g/L and COD of 3600 mg/L. The highly concentrated effluent was diluted to ten times and was passed through ceramic ultrafiltration (UF) membrane module to reduce organic loading of the wastewater. The permeate from the UF process was further treated with a carbonaceous biosorbent prepared from vegetable waste of household for removal of dyes. Effect of process parameters such as transmembrane pressure (1–5 kg/cm²) and contact time were studied in UF process with respect to the permeate flux and COD removal. Effect of the initial concentration of dyes, pH, temperature and biosorbent dose have been analysed in the biosorption process. Encouraging results were obtained in the integrated process with respect to the dye and organic loading reduction in industrial effluent.