Case study on sustainability of textile wastewater treatment plant based on lifecycle assessment approach

Abstract

Abstract The present study is aimed at the estimation of the environmental footprints of a textile effluent treatment plant in India based on Lifecycle analysis (LCA) thinking of gate-to-gate approach with closed-loop recycling. The real-time operational data were collected on a daily basis for a year with minimum experimental uncertainties and treated as lifecycle inventory. Based on existing plant practice, two-fold functional units of 1,500 m 3 (effluent stream 1) and 1,200 m 3 (effluent stream 2) were considered for the study, and the system boundary was designed. The analysis demonstrated that the ozonation process contributes significantly in generating environmental burden, with a global warming potential of 1,440 kg and 2,041 kg CO 2 equivalent for effluent stream 1 and 2, respectively. Conversely, activated carbon filter imparts less to the environmental burden, with a global warming potential of 217 kg and 173.5 kg CO 2 equivalent for effluent stream 1 and 2, respectively, compared to other processes. Based on the parametric analysis, it was understood that electricity contributed substantially; and thus sensitivity/scenario analysis was carried out, showing 50% and 90% attenuation of environmental burden with increased renewable energy share from 50% to 100%. Increase in effluent reuse scenario also found to have augmented the environmental performance of the system. Based on the data presented in this study, policy-makers can decide strategies to reduce the environmental burden of textile industry effluent.