Textile Wastewater Treatment by Newly Introduced Natural Adsorbents

Abstract

A large quantity of water is consumed in wet processing units of textiles causing generation of huge wastewater. Wastewater needs proper treatment before discharge to water bodies. Several treatment methods are used in textile sector in different types of effluent treatment plants (ETPs). Those are physicochemical, biological, biochemical and electrochemical consisted of primary, secondary and tertiary treatments. Effluent treatment by using any type of ETP is costly for its high initial fixed amount and annual operating cost. It is mandatory to treat effluent before discharge. The low cost method like treatment with natural absorbents could be useful method as an alternative of conventional methods. This work was done to implement this low cost concept for textile wastewater treatment. Several easily obtainable natural plants were used in this work. All treated plants reduced 22-33% pH after 48h treatment. Treated plants reduced 26-70% color after treatment with wastewater indicates that these are good adsorbents of color. Medicinal aloe (Aloe vera) was capable to reduce 12.6% COD whereas water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic), malabar spinach (Basella alba) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) reduced 22-82% BOD load. Cauliflower and medicinal aloe reduced 26.4% and 55.2% iron from wastewater respectively.