Treatment Techniques of Industrial Effluents and Wastewater Treatment Plants

Abstract

Industrial wastewater is defined as effluent produced by various industrial processes. The main sources of industrial effluent include wastewater generated from the paper, nuclear, food and steel industries and also as agriculture runaway water. The industrial waste discharged from industry may include toxic heavy metals, high levels of dyes, oil, chemicals, solvents, garbage, dust, concrete, paints, organic constituents and petrochemicals. Industrial waste may be in the form of solid, liquid or gas and is further classified into hazardous and nonhazardous waste. Various processes generate hazardous waste such as pesticides and many toxic chemicals as industrial effluent. Thus, industrial wastewater is very toxic and, if not properly treated, can cause harmful effects on the health of humans and ecosystems. The main objective of this chapter is to summarize the sources and level of pollutants produced from industrial wastewater and water treatment plants to clean the effluent. The appropriate technologies used for the treatment of industrial wastewater and their applications will be discussed. A number of advanced techniques and water treatment plants used for reduction, isolation and recycling of waste in industrial effluents will also be summarized.