Biotechnical treatment and recycling of textile processing effluents

Informations projet

BIOEFFTEX

N° de convention de subvention: G1RD-CT-1999-00064

Projet clôturé

Date de début 1 Février 2000

Date de fin 30 Avril 2003

Financé au titre de

• Programme for research technological development and demonstration on "Competitive and sustainable growth 1998-2002"

Coût total € 1 621 623,00

Contribution de l’UE € 1 006 640,00

Coordonné par

GERMAN WOOL RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AACHEN
Germany

Livrables

Novel biotechnical and combined processes for effluent cleaning and recycling

Enzyme and microbial based biotechnical processes for treatment and recycling of dyehouse effluents to improve competitiveness of European textile industry against Far East countries by using new, eco-efficient technologies with less environmental impact resulting in lower environmental costs. In particular the process comprises: - biotechnical degradation of dyestuffs in effluents - increased water reuse in textile dyehouses dyeing impact on quality - potential combining of biotechnical / membrane technology for water treatment - process and equipment development. The outcome will be reduced water pollution, recycling of process water, and equipment and process technology.

Isolation and identification of dye degrading micro-organisms

Different micro-organisms isolated and identified that are able to decolorize textile dyes in dyehouse effluents. Main project outcome is development of biotechnical processes for treatment of dyehouse effluents. This results in reduction of water consumption, reduction of effluent load and recycling of process water. Different microorganisms and mixed populations have been isolated capable of effluent decolorization.

Filtration systems for the removal of dye house effluent components and recycling of biotechnical means

Membrane filtration can be used as a pre-treatment step before the biotechnical treatment and the recycling of textile processing effluent and secondly as an after-treatment step. In the first case the dyehouse effluent is concentrated prior to the biotechnical process stage resulting in a more effective and reasonable enzyme-to-substrate-relation during biodegradation. In the second case enzymes or micro-organisms are separated from the liquor for being recycled and additionally via different membrane stages effluent components are separated from the reusable process water. There is a wide range of applications feasible by combining biotechnical and physical water treatment.

Isolation and identification of dye degrading enzymes

Main project outcome is development of biotechnical processes using enzymes for treatment of dyehouse effluents. This results in reduction of water consumption, reduction of effluent load and recycling of process water. A fast qualitative screening method for analysing textile dye decolorisation was developed for screening of numerous textile dyes and various enzymes. Altogether 6 laccases and 2 peroxidases isolated and/or identified that are able to decolorise various textile dyes in dyehouse effluents. The different enzymes discovered have been shown to be active under the conditions of industrial dyehouse liquors and capable of effluent decolorisation.The use of laccase-mediator system was shown to remarkably increase the decolorisation effect.