Fluidized aerobic bio-reactor technology in treatment of textile effluent

Abstract

The present study highlights the efficiency of fluidized aerobic bio-reactor based technology for treatment of the textile effluent. The percentage treatment efficiency of COD (93%), total suspended solids (72%), total dissolved solids (94%), BOD (88%), pH (25%), alkalinity (98%), electrical conductivity (51%), hardness (99%), chlorides (33%), Cu2+ (95%), Cr6+ (49%), Pb2+ (75%), Fe3+ (96%) and Zn2+ (91%) achieved in the present study was better than or comparable with that reported by using advanced treatment technique. The level of pH (6.97), total dissolved solids (357.63 mg L−1), COD (136.95 mg L−1), Cu2+ (1.06 mg L−1), Cr6+ (0.67 mg L−1), Fe3+ (1.14 mg L−1), Zn2+ (0.47 mg L−1) in the treated effluent was within the limits of FEPA, CCME, CPCB, USEPA and BIS standards. The level of dissolved oxygen (7.16 mg L−1) was above the minimum level of 4.0 mg L−1 required for the existence of aquatic life in the inland surface water. However, the level of electrical conductivity (7288 μS cm−1), chlorides (1340 mg L−1), phosphates (7.49 mg L−1), total suspended solids (328.50 mg L−1), BOD (57.25 mg L−1) and Cu2+ (1.06 mg L−1) were exceeding the above limits. It is expected that the present effluent treatment technology will help in the treatment and recycling of textile industry effluent for further use thereby reducing the wastage of fresh/potable water for textile processing which in turn will reduce the industrial expenditure on water procurement.