Recycling of tannery effluent from common effluent treatment plant using ceramic membrane based filtration process: A closed loop approach using pilot scale study

Abstract

Ceramic membrane based treatment was proposed for recycling of tannery effluent being discharged from a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) which treats the effluent produced from about 400 tanneries in and around Kolkata, India. The efficiency of the process was investigated with the help of a pilot scale study. The membrane filtration unit was installed inside the premises of CETP. The effluent from secondary clarifier which is usually discharged into the environment was treated further by the membrane process. Ceramic microfiltration membrane developed indigenously by CSIR‐Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute was used in this study. The feasibility of the treatment process was initially evaluated in laboratory scale membrane filtration unit which indicated about 77–80% reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 95‐98% reduction of turbidity. The treated water (TW) from pilot scale study was reused in the wet processing of leather and compared to that of control (C). Dye uptake of the leather samples was observed more in case of TW and other physical properties were comparable with that of control. Tensile strength of leather from TW was about 258 kg/cm2 while for C it was 260 kg/cm2. Application of the low cost ceramic membranes having excellent chemical and mechanical durability proved potential to provide a sustainable option for recycling of hazardous industrial effluent. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 60–69, 2016