Textile effluent treatments using natural adsorbents and vapor absorption technology: A box behnken design approach

Abstract

The untreated effluents from textile industries pose significant hazards to the environment and human health, exacerbating challenges in effluent disposal management and water scarcity. In response, various methods, particularly adsorption, have been widely employed in chemical and process industries to remove contaminants. This study focuses on converting industrial effluents into potable water using natural adsorption and vapor absorption techniques and optimizing the method with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) analysis using Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimized condition obtained through RSM was replicated and found to have an adsorption capacity of 45 % after the column and 65 % total removal after the vapor absorption column. Activated carbon samples from textile industries underwent characterization techniques such as FTIR, XRD, TGA, and SEM analyses. Different adsorbing materials including date seeds, tamarind seeds, and palm leaves were utilized for effluent purification. Chemical analyses were conducted on raw effluent, settled effluent, and condensed water and showed that there is a certain metal ion removal. Through this approach, the study aims to provide an eco-friendly and economically viable solution for effluent treatment, addressing both environmental concerns and resource management challenges and a possible coupling of two different approaches into a viable solution.