Integrated water recycling and emission abatement in the textile industry

Objective

Increasing water consumption for industrial and domestic purposes is leading to potential water shortages within much of Europe. European industry is also faced with increasing costs for the water it uses. As large volumes of water are used in the textile processing industry, and it is widespread throughout Europe, it is a good candidate for development of water recycling and emission abatement. The consortium is aware of the importance of the textile industry for the European economy and of the potential market for more efficient, less hazardous and more environmentally friendly integrated manufacturing-dyeing processes, and effluent treatment for water recycling. The wastewater from the modern textile industry may include many types of dyes, detergents, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, grease and oils, solvents, sulphide compounds, heavy metals, inorganic salts and fibres, in amounts depending on the processing regime.
The recalcitrance and biotoxicity of many of these components of textile wastewater, together with their varying concentration, mean existing treatment systems can be unreliable. Process water must meet rigorous quality standards, and this together with the treatment difficulties makes implementation of a water reuse process very difficult. Though new dyes have lately been developed, some with increased biodegradability, the textile industry is still one of the major and most severe causes of pollution in several regions in Europe. Despite process improvements, there will always be an end-of-pipe effluent of variable composition needing treatment. Textile processing wastewater treatment would greatly benefit from reliable and inexpensive monitoring and control procedures to improve effluent quality.
This proposal is for an integrated process for the provision of recycled water of assured quality with minimum emissions. A modular treatment process is proposed, with the degree of implementation flexible according to the recalcitrance and toxicity of the waste and the local need. The complete emission abatement and water recycling scheme to be developed consists of a novel anaerobic heavy metal removing, dye adsorbing stage, an aerobic stage controlled by sensors and providing reliable treatment, and a polishing stage for use where recycling of process water is desired. The proposal fits clearly within the Environment and Climate Work Programme 2.2.3 research tasks 1-4. Clean water intake could be reduced by as much as 50-75%, final discharge of sludge to landfill by up to 60% and in addition a heavy metal recovery goal of 80% is aimed for.
Keywords: Textile wastewater, integrated emission abatement, in-process water recycling

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › waste management › waste treatment processes › recycling
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › water treatment processes › wastewater treatment processes
• engineering and technology › materials engineering › textiles
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › sensors
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › environmental sciences › pollution

Programme(s)

• FP4-ENV 2C - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 02020302 - Emission abatement

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Centro Imprese Depurazione Acque Srl

Address

Via Laghetto 1
22073 Fino Mornasco Como
Italy

Participants (11)

AquaAmbiente - Tratamento de Aguas e Sluçoes para o Ambiente SA

Portugal

Address

249,estrada Outeiro De Polima, Lote B
2775 Parede

BIOTIM NV

Belgium

Address

138/144,fotografielaan 30
2610 Wilrijk (Antwerpen)

GENT UNIVERSITY

Belgium

Address

653,coupure Links 653
9000 Gent

INSTITUT NATIONAL DES SCIENCES APPLIQUEES DE TOULOUSE

France

Address

Avenue De Rangueil Département Gp1 Complexe Scien
31077 Toulouse

Instituto Superior Técnico

Portugal

Address

Avenida Rovisco Pais
1096 Lisboa

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF ITALY

Italy

Address

Via Reno 1
00198 Roma

POLYTECHNIC OF MILAN

Italy

Address

Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci 32
20133 Milano

SWISS FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY LAUSANNE

Switzerland

Address

Ecublens
1015 Lausanne

Technische Universität Wien

Austria

Address

13,karlsplatz
1040 Wien

University of Glamorgan

United Kingdom

Address

Llantwit Road
CF37 1DL Pontypridd

University of Natal

South Africa

Address

4014,dalbridge
Durban