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Project no.

COOP-CT-2004-508723

ADOPBIO
Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biotreatments for Water Recycling in the Textile Industry

Instrument: Co-operative research project

Thematic Priority: Food quality and safety

Publishable Final Activity Reports


Period covered: from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Date of preparation: June 2007

Start date of project: 1st January 2005 Duration: 30 months

Project coordinator name: Gian Maria COLONNA

Project coordinator organisation name: SSETA Revision: Final


ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723

Table of Contents

SECTION 1 – PROJECT EXECUTION ______________________________________________ 3


1.1 - Summary description of project objectives _______________________________ 3
Project Summary ________________________________________________________ 3
Project objectives _______________________________________________________ 3
1.2 – Project Organisation _________________________________________________ 4
1.3 – List of the participants________________________________________________ 5
1.4 – Work performed and end-results _______________________________________ 5
WP1 – Wet process analysis and specifications ________________________________ 5
WP2 – Laboratory tests on water treatment __________________________________ 10
WP3 – Design of the treatment system ______________________________________ 13
WP4 – Process control software ___________________________________________ 15
WP5 – Treatment system manufacturing ____________________________________ 18
WP6 – System integration and tests ________________________________________ 20
WP7 – Project Management ______________________________________________ 23
1.5 - Project’s relation to the State of the Art_________________________________ 23
1.6 - Impact of the project on the industry and research sector __________________ 24
SECTION 2 – DISSEMINATION AND USE __________________________________________ 25

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SECTION 1 – PROJECT EXECUTION


1.1 - Summary description of project objectives
Project Summary
The AdOPBio project aims to develop a decolouring and recycling treatment of the wastewaters
in the textile finishing industry, based on two alternative methods: Advance Oxidation Processes
(UV-activated photolysis of hydrogen peroxide and thermal activated oxidation process) for the
decolouration of the spent bath, combined with a bioflotation process for the destruction of the
residual organic load. The combination of these wastewater treatments is expected to achieve a
complete decolourisation of the process waters for every type of wet process (finishing, bleaching,
dyeing, etc.). The project will also develop and implement a process-control software based on
artificial neural network and systems dynamics.
Research centres in collaboration with textile finishing companies and suppliers of dyeing
machines and wastewater treatment equipment will develop a prototype that will be tested and
validated by the end-user companies (textile finishing companies) in order to accumulate
experiences and improve the capability of the plant to match a wide range of industrial needs.
The project includes all the steps in developing a wastewater treatment unit such as:
• modelling and laboratory investigations of AOP and bioflotation processes
• design and manufacture of AOP and bioflotation reactors
• design and manufacture of a dyeing machine, interfaced with both AOP reactors
• implementation of an ANN-based process control software
• interfacing the dyeing machine with the bioflotation treatment plant
• tests of the plant in and industrial validation of the decolouring and recycling process.

Project objectives
Today more than 4.000 compounds are used in the textile finishing process, which
complicates design and setting up of a single cleaning up and recycling technology. The
equipment used in decolouring and cleaning up processes is very hard to set and tune with the
continuous variation in load and composition. Moreover, the pollutant charge can overload
the capability of the cleaning plant, therefore failures are common and operational costs are
prohibitive for SME companies.
One of the purposes of the project will be to investigate different dyeing and finishing
processes, drawing guidelines for the convenience of recycling water by this system.
ADOPBIO will focus on a decolouring and cleaning up treatment for textile finishing
wastewaters based on an UV-activated photolysis of the hydrogen peroxide (an targetted
Advanced Oxidation Process, AOP) combined with a bioflotation treatment.
The combination of these treatments can achieve a complete decolourization and recycling of
the process waters for every type of wet process (finishing, bleaching, dyeing, etc.).
ADOPBIO will also focus on the development and implementation of process control
software, based on artificial neural network and systems dynamics.
The textile finishing wastewater treatment is expected to achieve the following characteristics:
Quality of the treated process water :
• full decolorization (> 99% for interfering dyes; > 90% for other colour substances)
• reduction of surfactants (≥ 99%) and toxic compounds (COD reduction ≥ 95%) if not
recyclable
• recycling of at least 75% of the wastewaters

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• strong reduction of process sludges (0.05-0.1 Kg per Kg of removed COD or dye)
• extraction of salts (to treat further for separating metals and recycling them)
Cost-effectiveness and ergonomy of the process
• 75% of the wastewater recycled using AdOPBio system.
• Important costs reduction of 3 Euros per cubic meters used in the industrial process
therefore less environmental taxes
• process control by means of an ANN (Artificial Neural Network) -based expert system
• simplicity of operations and information support to the operators
• safety for operatives and environment (destruction of toxic compounds)
• low investments and management costs for the plant (> 30%)
Design of the wastewater process and adaptability
• adaptation of the treatment to the SME water flows (even at machine level)
• dynamic process simulation based on systems dynamics
• simplified and energy-saving configuration
• improved equipment lifetime (against corrosion, exhausted membranes, …)
• plant dimension scaled to the size of SME needs (<50 m2)
• adaptation of the treatment to the finishing process (continuous, per batch)
Research centres in collaboration with textile finishing companies and suppliers of dyeing
machines and wastewater treatment equipment will develop a prototype that will be tested and
validated by the end-user companies (textile finishing companies) in order to accumulate
experiences and improve the capability of the plant to match a wide range of industrial needs.

1.2 – Project Organisation

1. Wet process analysis and specifications 2. Laboratory tests on water treatments


1.1 Review of the end-users wet processes 2.1 Laboratory tests on AOPs

1.2 Economic impact analysis of waters recycling


2.2 Laboratory tests on bioflotation
1.3 Specifications for recycling of process waters

3. Design of the treatment system 4. Process control software


3.1 Design of the bioflotation reactor 4.1 Design of the ANN-based software

3.2 Design of the AOP reactors 4.2 Software implementation

3.3 Design of the dyeing machine

5. Treatment system manufacturing 6. System integration and tests


5.1 Manufacture of the AOP reactors 6.1 ADOPBIO system integration

5.2 Manufacture of the bioflotation reactor 6.2 ADOPBIO system testing

5.3 Manufacture of the dyeing machine 6.3 Analysis of results

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1.3 – List of the participants

Partic. Participant name Participant short name Country


no.
CR 1 Helios Italquartz Helios Italy
CR 2 Robert Blondel Blondel France
CR 3 Dama Engineering Dama Slovenia
CR 4 OBEM SpA OBEM Italy
CR 5 TSP D.D. TSP Slovenia
CO 6 Stazione Sperimentale per la Seta SSeta Italy
CR 7 Ecologia Applicata EcoAppl Italy
CR 8 University of Maribor UniMaribor Slovenia

1.4 – Work performed and end-results


WP1 – Wet process analysis and specifications
Leader: Helios
Participants: Helios, Blondel, TSP, Dama, EcoAppl, UniMaribor, SSETA

WP1 – Objectives
The objectives of the WP1 were the followings:
• description of the textile wet processes used by each end-user partner
• definition of a strategy for reducing use and preventing accumulation of chemicals
• economic impact analysis of wastewater recycling strategies and technologies
• technical specifications for a resource-saving wastewater treatment

WP1 – Results
1 WET PROCESS ANALYSIS
A deep review of the end-users wet processes was achieved through visiting the factories,
collecting samples of products and process waters, and analysing them with a particular
attention to the parameters that will be important for AOP and bioflotation treatments.
Within wet-processes, dyeing was the subject of main investigations.
In the following paragraphs results are reported for the two factories.
1.1 Wet process at Blondel SA.
Robert Blondel SA is a group including 3 mills for textile finishing. The main plant is placed
in St. Léger du Bourg Denis, near Rouen (Normandy), the second mill, Teinturie Centre
Alsace, is situated near Strasbourg, the third plant, Teinture et Apprête de Normandie, is in
Malaunay, close to Rouen. Robert Blondel SA works in partnership with important fashion
houses (Lacoste, Kindy, Olimpia, Kookai, Eminence, etc.), offering a full service with a
performant laboratory and a range of different capacity of baths on cones, hank and fabrics.
Plant in St. Léger du Bourg Denis.
Blondel’s factory in St. Léger du Bourg Denis is mainly dedicated to processing of yarns of
different materials as cotton, viscose, wool and silk. The lay-out of the plant is divided in
these parts: store room for raw materials; dyeing rooms; rewinding, inspection and packaging
departments; general services as energy, water softening, steam and neutralization via CO2 of

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wastewater before storage in a basin. Cotton covers the highest percentage of production
reaching more than 80% depending on the season and requests of fashion. Make-up of yarn is
in cones but also hank processing is in use for particular purposes.
Dyeing of cotton and cellulose fibres.
After pre-treatments, yarn of cellulose fibres can be dyed with a wide range of dyestuffs:
reactive, direct, vat, sulphur, azoic (naphtol). Blondel is used to dye with reactive and naphtol
dyes. Reactive dyes are one third of the dyestuffs used in the word for cellulose fibres and
batch processes are the most common for yarn. In batch dyeing, dye, alkali ( sodium
hydroxide or carbonate or bicarbonate) and salt are added to the dyebath in one step, at the
start of the process, or stepwise. In the stepwise process the alkali is added only after the dye
has absorbed to the fibre. Its amount is determined by the reactivity of the system and the
desired depth of shade (cold dyes are applied at lower pH compared to warm and hot dyes)
Salt is added to improve bath exhaustion: the concentration employed depends on the
substantivity of the dye and on the intensity of the shade. Higher concentrations, up to 80-100
g/l NaCl, are required for deep shades and low-affinity dyes. After dyeing, the liquor is
drained off and the material is rinsed and then washed off with the addition of auxiliaries.
Environmental issues of the dyeing of cotton.
Most of the emission of dyeing are to water and may originate from: The dyes themselves
(e.g. toxicity, metals, colour); Auxiliaries contained in the dye formulation; Basic chemicals
(alkali, reducing and oxidising agents) and auxiliaries used in dyeing processes; Contaminants
present on the fibre when it enters the process sequence. Spent dye-baths and water from
washing operations always contain a percentage of un-fixed dyes because the rate of fixation
vary considerably among the different classes of dye and may be low especially for reactive
dyes for cotton (in literature from 50 to 95 %). Depending on the dye class and the application
method employed, different additives are present in the dye formulations. They may be:
dispersants (lignin or naphthalene sulphonates formaldehyde condensed, ethylene/propylene
oxide copolymers), salts (sodium sulphate/chloride), powder binding (oils), anti-foaming
(acetyl glycols), anti-freeze (glycerine, glycols), thickening (CMC, polyacrylates), buffer
systems (phosphate, acetate). Since these substances are not absorbed by the fibres, they are
completely discharged in the waste water. Other auxiliaries of environmental interest are:
levelling agent (fatty amine/alky-lphenol ethoxylates), dispersing agents (acrylic –maleic acid
copolymers), retarders (quaternary ammonium compounds), complexing agent (EDTA,
DTPA, EDTMP, DTPMP), fastness improvers (cyanamide-amonia salt condensation
products).
Dyeing at Blondel’s Plant in St. Léger du Bourg Denis.
Considering the dyestuffs in the colour kitchen of Blondel’s factory, they are in a list of 220
commercial names for a total amount of 25161 kg consumed in 2004. A selection of the first
twenty, in order of the consumed amount but over 200 kg used in 2004, cover more than 75%
of the yearly consumption and belong to reactive and naphtol dyeing classes.
In agreement with Mr. Balguerye, looking at the trend of the production, we decided to study
only reactive dyestuffs, namely Cibacron Black W-NN and the tern: Red, Yellow and Blue
Levafix CA. Cibacron W are for dark shades and for warm (60°C) exhaust dyeing of cellulose
fibres. Also high build up and good all round fastness properties. Levafix® CA is a new class
of reactive dyes introduced in 1999 by DyStar company. CA, that is for Combined Anchor,
refers to the use of chlorine-free tri-fluoropyrimidine, mono-fluorotriazine and new vinyl
sulphone anchor groups. Levafix Red CA, Yellow CA, Blue CA and Navy CA exhaust on
tone and give fixation in the 90+ percent range. These are suitable for all reactive dyeing
processes. Some chemical characterisations were done on the sample of dyestuffs collected
from Blondel, such as: metals content (chromium, cadmium, cobalt, cupper, zinc, nickel, iron)
by ashing and wet digestion, UV/Vis spectra at different concentrations. Most of the data are

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not far from the specifications of Ecolabel but it is worthy to note the very high value of
cupper in Levafix Blue and the quantity of iron in Cibacron Black, two metals that may
influence both the Advanced Oxidation Process and the biological treatment. Considering
chemicals and auxiliaries in use at Blondel’s factory, they are in a list of 160 products,
chemical or commercial names. Reported is a selection in order of the consumed amount but
over 1000 kg used in 2004. The highest amounts are for chemicals: sodium chloride for
reactive dyeing, hydrogen peroxide for bleaching, sodium hydroxide and carbonate for pH
setting. Looking at the auxiliaries we selected the most important as amount and those used in
the recipes for dyeing with the dyes above. UV/Vis spectra (1 mm cuvette) and TOC values of
solutions 1 g/l of each auxiliary in water are reported. Some examples of the dyeing recipes in
use at Blondel’s factory are reported.
1.2 WET PROCESSES at TSP d.d., Maribor
TSP Tovarna sukancev in trakov d.d. is a private joint-stock company located in Maribor,
Slovenia, about 10 km from Austrian border. They are producing sewing threads and
trimmings. Today they are already certified according to ISO 9001 standards and in the
process of preparing to meet very demand ISO TS 16949 standards used in automotive
industry associations. They have also the certificate ÖKO-TEX STANDARD 100 for
polyester sewing thread for clothing industry. Customers are supplier of materials such as
elastic ribbons, listing pocket and sewing threads that are being built in seats covers for VW,
PSA, RENAULT, ŠKODA and OPEL. Their products are divided in two large groups:
sewing threads and trimmings. In the same sense is divided also their production department,
which is organized in two sections, one for sewing thread production and the other for
trimmings. Sewing thread section has another three parts, these are twisting department, dye-
house and precision winding department with packaging.
Dye-house
7 dye machines different sizes – batches sizes go from 10 to 200 kg. According the very high
demands of the customers in automotive industries for very good reproducibility from batch
to batch and machine to machine. Therefore they reconstructed the dye house step by step
from year 2000. They linked 5 reconstructed dying machines together in on-line production
managing and control system OrgaTEX, which enable efficient production planning and
automatic process control. Beside the Orgatex they have colour matching system and
ITMProcess – recipes management system (2003). Capacity is about 40 t monthly.
LIST OF DYESTUFFS: CONSUMPTION in year 2004.
In TSP they have around 74 dyestuffs in stock. The table reported showed the most used
dyestuffs in year 2004. Quantities of dyestuffs used during the year 2004 are 4.300 kg. They
are mainly metal complex and disperse dyestuffs.
LIST OF CHEMICALS AND AUXILIARIES: CONSUMPTION in year 2004.
Quantities of chemical products used during the year 2004 are 48.000 kg. The table reported
showed the most used chemicals and auxiliaries in year 2004. Spectra and calibration curve of
selected dyestuffs are reported in the activity report of WP2 in which data have been used for
kinetic studies and models. Also TOC values of solutions 1ml/l of some of the auxiliaries
listed are measured.
1.3 COMMENTS.
The analysis of dyeing processes of the two factories shows that, because they work on
completely different materials, they produce waste waters whose composition can be
considered representative of an enough wide range of textile processing. Investigating their
behaviour at AOP and bioflotation treatments we could have an almost complete view of the
possibility in decolourization of waste waters from dyeing processes.
Problems encountered: considering the number chemicals and recipes necessary for the
production in the two factories, it was not allowed to investigate all of the possibility.

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Applied solutions: the applied solution was to chose the most interesting conditions,
selecting the most representative chemicals and dyeing recipes.

2 Economic impact analysis of waters recycling


Data of water consumes and costs are reported in the following pages for the two factories
considered and some general consideration are premised. The average water consumption in
textile processes is 160 kg per kg of finished product (EPA1996). Because it is a chemically
intensive industry, textile finishing generates effluents containing significant amounts of a
wide range of residues. Both water consumption rates and supply water characteristics are
highly variable. The highest water use generally refers to natural fibres, and particularly to
cotton. Synthetic fibres require lower water volumes per unit of product, mainly due to the
lower cleaning and scouring needs. Almost the entire volume, 90-95%, of the water used is
eventually discharged because losses (by steam production and evaporation from hot baths
during the dyeing and drying operations) are low. Wastewater includes: cleaning water,
process water, cooling water and storm water. The amount of water used varies widely,
depending on the specific process operated at the mill, the equipment used and the prevailing
management approach regarding water use. For example most dyers are traditionally hostile
to water reduction polices assuming that high quality of the products is assured only by using
high water volumes. Scouring, dyeing, printing and finishing generate the majority of textile
wastewater, as they require many rinsing sequences after each step.
Because of the wide variety of process steps, textile wastewater typically contains a complex
mixture of organic and inorganic chemicals.
2.1 Water consumption and control of the effluents at Blondel.
The total volume of the effluents in 2004 was 315 484 mc, with a daily discharge of 1300 mc.
100 of which are the ultra-concentrated (deep colour) exhausted dyebaths, 150 concentrated
(coloured) from the first rinsing and 1000, less and less coloured, from the other washing.
Data of the most important pollution parameter are reported, together with the yearly limits
imposed by the sewage plant manager.
Costs analysis: as concern the costs analysis of water, data are reported referring to year 2004
and the total cost for mc is 0.53 EUR.
2.2 Water consumption and control of the effluents at TSP
The total consumptions of pure water in year 2004 are 80.000 m3. Daily water consumptions
are 300 m3. Water consumption for: Colouring - 66.000 m3; Ultra concentrated water - 6.500
m3; Steam boiler house - 4.300 m3; Preparation of demineralised water - 3.200 m3
Data of the most important pollution parameter are reported in table (CO), together with the
limits imposed by law.
Costs analysis
The total cost for water is 2.5 EUR/mc. (cost price 0.58; Wastewater treatment on treatment
plant and sewage system tax 1.68; Tax for pumping water from natural source 0.05;
Ecological tax 0.19)
2.3 Comments.
The comparison between wet processes costs of the two factories shows large differences both
in the amount of water consumed and in the water cost. TSP has a lower consume but the cost
of water is about five time that of Blondel. As reported in the introduction, water consume is
related to many factors but the kind of fibre processed is the most important. Blondel
produces mainly high quality cotton that requires a lot of water, more than synthetic fibres
like polyester or polyamide. From the table of monitoring for 3 past years (2002, 2003, 2004)
it’s evident that TSP waste water are not particularly problematic with the exceptions
coloration parameters and the amount of SO32-.

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Problems encountered: as concern the economic impact of wastewater recycling, it will be
influenced by many factors that are evident if we look at the technical report on the end-users
wet processes and at the results of tests also at laboratory scale. We have to face to different
dyestuffs that have to be applied in specific conditions (pH, salinity, temperature, auxiliaries)
and the response of the exhausted dye baths to the chemical (H2O2+UV/T) or biological
treatments may vary in a large extent. The yield of the treatments is also related to the
conditions of treatment, eventually modified as pH or adding catalytic substances.

3. Definition of a strategy for reducing use and preventing accumulation of chemicals.


In consideration of the difference observed between the exhausted dye baths and the effluents
from rinsing, it was decided to treat them with AOP separately or mixing the exhausted
dyebath with the first rinsing that correspond to most of the colour discharged.
It has particular relevance in the case of reactive dyestuff of Blondel when a very high
concentration of salts are needed during dyeing and that are not compatible with the
bioflotation conditions. The lay-out of the pilot plant will take into account of this strategy, as
concern for example the dimensions of the different parts.

4. Technical specifications for a resource-saving wastewater treatment.


Although water is the most used chemical in textile processing, it is difficult to say, or to get
the dyers say, which must be the quality of water absolutely necessary for every step of the
manufacturing. As a matter of fact, other than a few basic parameters that must be respected,
the most important characteristic of waters suitable for the textile industry is a constant
quality, according to which the recipes can be calibrated as quality and quantity of the
auxiliaries or the pre-treatments.
The following table reports the chemical characteristics of different waters suitable for the
textile industry. A, B and C columns refer to a full scale factory use. Column A is the water
from Como Lake and distributed in the Como textile production area by an industrial
aqueduct. Column B refers to a polyester finishing industry pumping ground water from
private wells. Column C refers to a case of wastewater reclamation in the Prato textile area.
Values in column D are possible guide values already used as a reference in various Italian
studies on textile wastewater post-treatment and reclamation. These values should satisfy the
quality standards required for reuse in all the textile processes, after softening if required.
Specific trials on scouring and dyeing of different fibres performed by various textile
laboratories proved the suitability of reclaimed water even at higher COD contents (58 mg l-
1
).
A B C D
Origin Lake water Ground water Reclaimed Guide values
wastewater
TSS mg l-1 ‹1 10 22 10
COD mg l-1 ‹ 10 30 53 30
Abs. 420 ‹ 0.001 ‹ 0.001 0.02 0.01
pH 7.8 7.5 7.7 7-8
Conductivity µS cm-1 290 200 1636 1800

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WP2 – Laboratory tests on water treatment


Leader: SSETA
Participants: Helios, TSP, SSETA, UniMaribor, EcoAppl

WP2 – Objectives
The objectives of the WP2 were the followings:

A: 3 liters in batch 1 lamp B: 6 liters in batch 2 lamps C: 12 liters 1 lamp flow


• identification, by means of computer simulations of chemical reactions, of quenching
phenomena, chain-termination & radical scavenging, toxic and intermediate
compounds and their effects on the AOP-based wastewater treatment (interference,
inhibition, etc.);
• investigation on the bioflotation (ammonification/nitrification capability and effects of
temperature and oxygen injection pressure) and efficiency measurements
• definition of the best configuration of coupled AOP and bioflotation processes
(exploitation of loops, pre-oxidation, reuse of reactants such as iron used for Fenton
reaction as biological nutritient, coagulant, …)
• identification of the best methods for recovering salts or substances which accumulate
during the process and may make ineffective the water recycling;

WP2 – Results
Different reactors have been used at laboratory level, both as concern AOPs and Bioflotation.
Here following are the pictures of the AOPs reactors ranging from 3 to 12 liters at SSeta lab
and that at UniMaribor of 6 liters and continuous control of main parameters:

The lamps tested were of an electric power of 500 and 1000 W also of different bulb length
that is W/cm.

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The lamp of this reactor is of a tunable electric power from 400 to 1600W.

Through these reactors we investigated the behavior of many of the substances in use at the
end-users factories with particular attention to the dyestuffs of the largest consume.
Beginning with degradation of the selected dyestuff, the tests were run adding all the chemical
auxiliaries and salts necessary for a correct dyeing process with the purpose to investigate the
quenching effect of the chemicals and the intermediates produced during the AOP treatments.
As concern thermal enhanced oxidation, we did not need any specific reactor but only
conventional lab tools. The course of the degradations has been followed measuring the
absorbance, TOC, pH, conductivity, residual H2O2 etc. and the values at different times have
been reported in diagrams and faced through a kinetic approach. Also the combination of
AOP and Bioflotation has been tested.
Here following are some cases of the results obtained.

Degradation of the Levafix Red CA dyeing recipe in reactor B.


The standard recipe for reactive dyeing is, as reported in WP1:
Saiatol HP Jet 1 cc/l, Drimagene ER 1 cc/l, Airtex 0.3 cc/l, Dibamol ECO 0.3 cc/l, NaCl (80
g/l), NaCO3 (3 g/l) and NaOH (4 g/l). We added 0.2 g/l of Levafix Red CA
The following spectra refer to the degradation with 1000 W lamp, without cooling, hydrogen
peroxide 1500 mg/l .

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The time needed to the disappearance of the red colour was more than 20 min. but the
solution became yellow and not completely transparent. After adding hydrogen peroxide
(again 1500 mg/l) and going on with the irradiation for 20 min, the yellowness disappeared
but the opalescent effect persisted.
Some litres of this treated solution were prepared and given to Ecologia Applicata for the
evaluation of the efficacy of the biological process. At the same time a sample coming from
biological treatment in the lab of Ecologia Applicata, but still coloured, was submitted to
UV/H2O2 under our standard conditions, other than a higher concentration of hydrogen
peroxide (3000 mg/l).
The colour disappeared in 20 min but a brown deposit appear on the bottom of the vessels, in
which we could determine a very high concentration of iron and cupper.

Degradation of Irgalan Gelb 3RL KWL and other dyes in thermal enhanced
decolouration.
In the following graph is reported the degradation of a metal complex dyestuff.
In this experiment was investigated the effect of the concentration of H2O2 but in the same
way also the influence of the temperature, the amount of catalyst and the concentration of
different dyestuffs have been considered.

Results from kinetic studies of the UV/H2O2/catalyst decolouration show that all studied
reactions are of pseudo first order. For metal complex dyes the best conditions among tested
were: pH 7, dye concentration 30 mg/l, H2O2 5 ml. For reactive dyes the best conditions
were: pH 3, dye concentration 30 mg/l, H2O2 3 ml.

Some HPLC analysis allowed to understand part of the chemical mechanism of degradation
of dyes in the solution treated by AOP. Maleic acid was identified as an intermediate before
complete mineralization and this is due to opening the aromatic rings of the structure.

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WP3 – Design of the treatment system
Leader: SSETA
Participants: Helios, Blondel, TSP, OBEM, SSETA, EcoAppl, UniMaribor
WP3 – Objectives
The objectives of the WP3 were the followings:
• executive design of the pilot reactor for the bioflotation treatment
• executive design of the AOPs pilot reactors (UV- and thermal-activated AOPs)
• executive design of the dyeing machine interfacing with AOP reactors
• executive design of the recycling plant, interfaced with AOP and bioflotation reactors,
together with a salts extraction system
WP3 – Results
- the work performed
Executive design of the pilot reactor for the bioflotation treatment:
The goals consist in:
• determination of the size of BF reactor;
• determination of the lay-out of BF system: reactor, reservoir and decanter;
• determination of the foam depression device;
• determination of internal flow;
• final reactor design and manufacturing
Executive design of the pilot reactor for AOP treatment:
The goals consist in:
• determination of the type and number of UV lamps;
• determination of the volume and number of reactors elements;
• determination of the type of material of reactors elements;
• determination of internal flow;
• final reactor design and manufacturing
Executive design of the dyeing machine interfacing with AOP reactor:
The goals consist in:
• determination of the dyeing capacity;
• determination of the volume of the dyeing vessel;
• determination of the type and material of heating elements;
• determination of type and capacity of the dyeing pump;
• determination of the type of device to install
• determination of the type of machine control
• final machine design and manufacturing
Executive design of the recycling plant interfacing with AOP and bioflotation reactors:
The goals consist in:
• determination of the various type of possible recycling flow;
• determination of the volume of the recycling flow;
• determination of the type and material of recycling elements;
• determination of type and capacity of the recycling pumps;
• final design and manufacturing

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- the methodologies and approaches employed,
The final aim is the definition of the design of the various elements to be assembled together
in a complete system to carry out the recycling treatments in autonomous way.
The design were drown using a 3D CAD system integrated with a FEA technology CAE
system (Ansys) taking in great account the necessity to obtain a system capable to perform
the required work, but easily modifiable, in case of necessity, or if required, after the first test
results.
The piping design takes account of the research approach and allow a great connections
flexibility, in order to test the different combination of the implemented treatments.

- the end results,


The final design result is the 3D drawing of the dyeing machine, reactors, tanks, ready for the
manufacturing start-up, as shown in the following pictures:

Bioflotation system

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Period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Publishable
ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723

WP4 – Process control software


Leader: UniMaribor
Participants: DAMA, TSP, SSETA, EcoAppl, UniMaribor

WP4 – Objectives
The objectives of the WP4 were the followings:
• definition of functionalities of the software controlling the treatment and feed-back
actions on the finishing process upstream
• implementation of the software and ß-tests by means of process simulation
• simulating how the AOP cells dynamically interact and work together for the benefit
of the whole - input for learning and neural network organisational control

WP4 – Results

The ANN-based models were built for model dye solutions to help in the process control. For
on – line prediction ANN models were performed using different number of neurons. 4
dimensional neurons were arranged in a rectangular grid. Each component of the neuron
corresponds to one variable determining the concentration of dye, volume H2O2 added,
intensity of the lamp and decoloration time. Different Kohonen-ANN architectures (5x5x4,
6x6x4, 8x8x4, 10x10x4, 20x20x4 …) were constructed. All were checked for conflicts, which
mean that two samples of different type fall into the same neuron.

Validation of the model was performed using cross validation. During the learning phase the
number of epochs and subsequently the number of iterations were optimized.
Cross validation means taking as model all experiments but one and trying to predict the
results of the experiment that was left out. The leave one out procedure was made for all
experiments. The predicted results were calculated and correlation between Yexp and Ymodel
was calculated. This process helps to calculate the results for the experiment that has never
been used in learning phase.

Dye Lambda Data Net size r-model r-cross val.


IRGALAN GELB 3RL KWL 456 nm 25 8x8 0.99 0.77
IRGALAN BORDEAUX EL. 200% 549 nm 30 8x8 0.97 0.87
IRGALAN GRAU GLN 577 nm 23 8x8 0.99 0.84
ERIONYL SCHWARZ M-BN 594 nm 13 6x6 1 -0.18
ERIONYL SCHWARZ M-BN 641 nm 13 6x6 1 -0.15
DOROSPERS ROT KRR 522 nm 15 6x6 1 0.34
JAUNE LEVAFIX CA 15 6x6 1.00 0.89
IRGALAN BORDEAUX EL. 200%
550 nm 130 20x20 1.00 0,99
(full experimental design)

Comment: Erionyl Schwarz M BN and Dorospers Rot KRR gave bad r-cross validation
because the decolouration using H2O2 /UV procedure was not successful for these kind of
dyes.

The best solution for the controlled output is final absorbance Af:
A f = (1 − D) Ai = (1 − f (C p , PUV , T )) Ai (1)

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Period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Publishable
ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723
where D = f (C p , PUV , T ) is the ANN mapping, and Ai is the initial absorbance.
Decolourisation factor was selected as the ANN output. Decolourisation factor is given by the
formula
A − Af
D= i (2)
Ai
where Ai is initial absorbance (before the decolourisation process), and Af is final absorbance
(after the decolourisation process). Consequently, D = 0 means that the process was
completely unsuccessful while D = 1 means that the decolourisation is perfect.

Optimal control is proposed to solve the control problem. The most important thing when
applying optimal control is to define a cost function. If the latter is not chosen wisely, the
results of the control will be unsatisfactory. The cost has to include all important aspects of
the control problem. In our case, we decided to choose the following cost function:
Cp PUV T
J = kd g ( Af ) + k p + ke (3)
C max Pmax T max
where g(Af) is the function that defines the cost due to unsatisfactory final absorbance:
⎧0 Af < Asatis
g ( Af ) = ⎨ (4)
⎩( Af − Asatis ) Af ≥ Asatis
2

If the final absorbance is greater than a certain threshold Asatis (the acceptable level of the final
absorbance), the first term of the cost function will be 0. If, however, the final absorbance is
greater, the first term will be positive. Constants Cmax, Pmax and Tmax are maximal values of Cp,
PUV and T used in the modelling process, respectively. Thus, the second and the third term in
Eq. (3) represent the cost due to H2O2 consumption and the cost due to energy consumption,
respectively. The first term in Eq. (3) represents the punishment of the unsatisfactory
decolourisation. Defining the structure of the cost function (3) is not enough for solving the
problem. One of the most subtle tasks is choosing the values of the constants kd, kp and ke that
represent the weights of the decolourisation cost, the peroxide cost, and the energy cost,
respectively.
Inserting (1) into (3), the following form of the cost function is obtained:
C P T
J (C p , PUV , T , Ai ) = k d g ((1 − f (C p , PUV , T )) Ai ) + k p p + ke UV (5)
Cmax PmaxTmax
The cost function depends on four variables and two known functions: f is the mapping
realised by the ANN, and g is given by Eq. (4). The optimal control is given by minimising
the cost function (5) with respect to three control variables (Cp, PUV and T). Since the
minimisation is done in four dimensional space (Cp, PUV, T, and Ai) each optimal control
variable depends upon the fixed value of initial absorbance (that is of course known prior to
the decolourisation process). Minimisation can be done off-line to come up with the control
functions:
PUV = h1 ( Ai )
T = h2 ( Ai ) (6)
C p = h3 ( Ai )
The three control functions h1, h2, and h3 are obtained in tabular form minimising the cost
function for the set of equidistantly spaced values for Ai.

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Period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Publishable
ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723
It is obvious that the functions given in Eq. (6) have to be recalculated for each new dye and
also if the circumstances change. This means that the analysis of the laboratory experiments
results only represent some initial control algorithm, while the actual one has to be obtained
when the results from the real process are available.

In the continuation of the project the program in the Matlab language was built that is capable
of automatically train the ANN model
D = f (C p , PUV , T ) (7)

of the process based on the measurements given in the form of ASCII files (the measurements
will be collected from the real plant). After building the model, the control functions PUV, T,
Cp are recalculated. They are given in the tabular form as a function of the initial absorbance.
The output is produced in the form of an ASCII file that is used by the industrial PC to tune
the control parameters on the PLC.

P = 1600 W
UV

0.8
decolourisation

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
60
40 10

20 5

time [min] 0 0
volume of H202 [mL/L]

ANN approximation of the mapping f ANN approximation of the


mapping f
for PUV = 1600 W for T = 30 min

Weighted criterion functions for two different selected weights

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Period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Publishable
ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723

WP5 – Treatment system manufacturing


Leader: OBEM
Participants: Helios, Blondel, UniMaribor, EcoAppl, SSETA, OBEM

WP5 – Objectives
The objectives of the WP5 were the followings:
• manufacture of reactors for UV- and thermal-activated AOPs
• manufacture of the bioflotation reactor
• manufacture of the dyeing machine interfaced with the AOP reactors

WP5 – Results
- the work performed,
Manufacture of reactors for UV and thermal activated AOPs:
The goals consist in:
• manufacturing of the reactor chambers and lamps supports;
• assembling of the reactors chambers on a proper frame;
• assembling of the reactors connection pipes, valves and pumps;
• manufacturing of the electrical and pneumatic system;
Manufacture of the bioflotation reactor:
The manufacturing of the bioflotation reactor has been carried out by ECOLOGIA
APPLICATA to his subcontractor.
The goals consist in:
• manufacturing of the bioflotation reactor;
• manufacturing of the connection pipe between the various reactor parts;
• assembling of the reactor electrical cabinet;
• manufacturing of the electrical system
Manufacture of the dyeing machine interfaced with the AOP reactor
The manufacturing of the dyeing machine has been carried out by OBEM according to the
previous design.
The goals consist in:
• manufacturing of the dyeing machine;
• assembling of the dyeing machine, aop reactor and bioflotation reactor;
• manufacturing of the connection pipe between the machine and the reactors;
• assembling of the electrical cabinet supplied by DAMA;
• manufacturing of the electrical and pneumatic system

- the methodologies and approaches employed,

The final project aim is the definition of a system extremely flexible to allow the exploring of
all possible configurations for the cleaning process, because its efficiency depends on the
characteristics of the wet process that is related to the type of textile material to be dyed.
The "connection flexibility" for the system allow to test several configurations and provide
flexible cleaning solutions, according to the composition of the bath waters. The two
treatments, AOP and Bioflotation, can be carried out separately and independently giving
more efficiency to the system.

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Period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Publishable
ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723
For the best results the unit must be very simple to use so OBEM and DAMA developed a
dedicated software, based on the OBEM “VisualDye” control system, to control and operate
in automatic mode the system

- the end results,

The final design consist of an integrated system composed of a laboratory DYEING


MACHINE connected with the intermediate storage tanks, the AOP reactor, the
BIOFLOTATION reactor, the control cabinet and the piping system connecting all the parts,
with the necessary appurtenances to allow a proper working of the system.
All the parts are installed on a metallic base to have an easy transportation system to allow the
testing in the partner’s facility using their industrial processes.
The final assembling, as shown in the annexed photo, proves that the objectives were fully
reached.

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Period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Publishable
ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723

WP6 – System integration and tests


Leader: OBEM
Participants: Helios, Blondel, TSP, Dama, OBEM, SSETA, EcoAppl, UniMaribor

WP6 – Objectives
The objectives of the WP6 were the followings:
• integration of the wastewater treatment and recycling system (AOP reactors + dyeing
machine + bioflotation reactor + tertiary treatment equipments)
• wastewater and recycling system interfacing with the ANN-based software
• validation tests, analysis of technical results and operational costs

WP6 – Results
1 Integration of the wastewater treatment and recycling system (AOP reactors +
dyeing machine + bio flotation reactor BF + tertiary treatment equipments):
The final design consist in a platform were are installed all the parts of the system to allow the
transportation without any disassembling. In this way the system can be easy installed in the
involved partners facilities for the necessary tests. Each part (dyeing machine, reactors, tanks,
pumps,...) is fixed on the platform and connected with the others by an austenitic stainless
steel type 316 piping also fixed on the platform. In the piping system are installed all the
valves pumps, probes, gauges necessaries for the working in order to allow a great flexibility
and the possibility to test different configurations to check the different ADOPBIO recycling
technologies.(See fig 1) The valves involved in the process are automatically driven by the
PC control system, while the auxiliaries valves (e.g. tanks drain, washing, discharging, liquor
check) are manually driven. All the process data are controlled by the PC control system, so
can be easily memorized for reference. The system is completed by a recycled water storage
tank having a capacity of 1000 liters to recover the treated water. This tank is equipped with a
proper pump automatically driven which allow the reuse of this water directly in the dyeing
machine or for tanks and/or reactors filling or washing. As shown in the diagram of fig 1 and
in the scheme of fig 2 the working possibilities of the system are various due to its flexibility.
In fact the system can works as follows
o Dyeing + AOP
o Dyeing + Bio flotation
o Dyeing + AOP + Bio flotation
o Dyeing with reuse of recycled water + AOP
o Dyeing with reuse of recycled water + Bio flotation
o Dyeing with reuse of recycled water + AOP + Bio flotation
The industrial tests were carried out using, either the dyeing liquor from the dyeing
equipment, and the liquor from industrial dye-houses to check the validity of the prototype.
During these tests the necessity of minor modifications has been evidenced, and the following
improvements puts into service:
AOP reactor tank heating system; AOP reactor tank pH control and dosing system; AOP
reactor liquor sampling collection; AOP reactor flow rate modification; Lamps cooling.
As concern a tertiary treatment equipment, a filtration step has been considered but only at lab
scale and also the addition of a specific enzyme for residual H2O2 reduction was proved to be
needed to get the decolorized liquor be reusable in a dyeing process.

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ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723
Dyeing Apparatus

- 50 liters of dyeing liquor


- up to 400 liters of washing water

UV reactor Bioflotation reactor


UV-activated AOP
1 to 3 700 W UV lamps Bioflotation system by Ecologia Applicata
continous recicling from tank to reactor 450 liters storage tank
temperature control Ph control

Storage tank
1000 liters recycled water storage tank

reuse of recycled water in the dyeing apparatus

Fig 1 ADOPBIO System working scheme

2. Wastewater and recycling system interfacing with the ANN-based software


Based on the ANN model of the process, the control algorithm has been proposed that
includes cost function minimisation. The cost function includes a part where insufficient
decolourisation is punished and a part where high consumption of energy and H2O2 is
punished. Based on the gains of these terms, different control strategies can be achieved.
Since we are dealing with a highly nonlinear system, the optimisation has to be done for each
batch. This procedure can also be done off-line since there are only two influential variables
(initial absorbance and dye sort) that take part in control output scheduling.
The ANN-based models were built for model dye solutions to help in the process control. For
on – line prediction ANN models were performed using different number of neurons. 4
dimensional neurons were arranged in a rectangular grid. Each component of the neuron
corresponds to one variable determining the concentration of dye, volume H2O2 added,
intensity of the lamp and decolouration time. Different Koh-NN architectures (5x5x4, 6x6x4,
8x8x4, 10x10x4…) were constructed. All were checked for conflicts, which mean that two
samples of different type fall into the same neuron.
No conflicts were observed in any of these networks. The analysis of formed clusters shows,
that the samples are separated into three distinct groups according to three different
concentrations of the dye. The weights in the i-level of the Kohonen neural network
correspond to the i-th variable of the sample representation vector. The normalization of the
experimental data was performed before entering the values into the program. The normalised
weights surfaces of 4 levels in 5x5x4, 6x6x4,8x8x4,10x10x4 dimensional Koh-NN have been
performed. The distribution of weights in individual levels coincides with individual clusters.
Counter propagation ANN have been used for prediction of decolourization efficiency. The
target values were calculated from initial and final absorbancies measured according to
experimental design.
Three TSP Irgalan and four Blondel Levafix dyes (model solutions) were decolourised
according to Placket Burmann experimental design. For each model solution the optimal
learning conditions for ANN were searched. The size of network and numbers of epochs were
chosen according to the best correlation between experimental and predicted values of dye
decolouration. Validation of the model was performed using cross validation. During the
learning phase the number of epochs and subsequently the number of iterations were
optimised. Cross validation means taking as model all experiments but one and trying to
predict the results of the experiment that was left out. The leave one out procedure was made

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Period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Publishable
ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723
for all experiments. The predicted results were calculated and correlation between Yexp and
Ymodel was calculated. This process helps to calculate the results for the experiment that has
never been used in learning phase.

3 Validation tests, analysis of technical results and operational costs


Validation tests were driven in three steps:
- in Como, at Sseta premises, with waste waters collected in some factories of the area, mainly
processing silk with acids or metal-complex dyes. As we have to transport waters by truck,
the experiments were run in batches.
- in Maribor, at TSP factory, with waste waters coming from dyeing processes applying
disperse and metal-complex dyestuffs. The BF plant was run in continuous with different
residence time while AOP in batches of 50 litres.
- in Malaunay (Rouen), at Blondel factory, with mixed effluent as concern BF and with
exhausted dye-bath from reactive dyestuffs processes feeding AOP reactor.
Analysis of technical results are more easy for BF, because have been on the basis of daily
feeding and chemical analysis, and may be summarized as follows:
- For TSP disperse dyesuffs in HRT = 7 d removals were for COD (Chemical Oxigen
Demand) 64% and for BiAS (non-ionic tensides) 82%
- For TSP metal complex dyes in HRT=2 d COD removal was 45% and BiAS removal was
21%, may be for the metal content that lower the efficiency of the biological oxidation
- For mixed effluent of Blondel factory in HRT = 4 d: COD removal was 57% and BiAS
removal 74%. In a further step, with HRT=2 d, COD removal was 82% and BiAS removal
83%, may be for the best acclimatisation of microorganisms.
The tests in Adopbio pilot show that the bioflotation decreases toxicity in every condition
(different HRT and waste water) but only a slight decoloration was reached.
As concern AOP treatment, many tests on the exhausted dye-baths have been done both in
Maribor and in Malaunay and the results were used to produce data to apply and train ANN.
It was not always possible to reach a complete decolourization unless a huge amount of H2O2
and very long treatment times were applied.
As after BF the mixed effluents took advantage of a large decreasing of the most important
environmental parameters, like COD and BiAS, but the decoloration was not complete,
leaving a reddish residue, samples of this colored solution were tested in a following passage
in the AOP reactor. Only decreasing the pH of the solutions we could reach a complete
decolourization and it was also possible, after the decomposition of H2O2, to dye a piece of
cotton in the same shade and color as with demineralized water.
Operational costs of the plant are mainly due to electricity, chemicals, lamps replacing,
maintenance and handling. As concern electricity the price of kW is widely dependent from
the considered country and the provider. The costs for chemicals are very low: strong acids or
bases for pH modification ( HCl 37%, d= 1,18, 140-180 euro/ton; NaOH 36 Be, d=1,35, 60-
120 euro/ton), hydrogen peroxide (d,135 200-250 euro/ton) , the ironII salt for TEO is only in
catalytic amount and eventually ammonium phosphate from a commercial fertilizer.
No lamps have been replaced during the tests and the usual life time is 2000 hrs. It might be
shortened if too much ignitions were applied. The time spent in maintenance is strictly
dependent from the waste water to be treated. If some suspended material or a very high
organic load are present, a fouling effect might be the cause of quartz tube loosing
transparency.

The objectives have been reached as concern decolourization and water reuse.
Operational costs of the plant appeared to be difficult to foreseen because they are widely
dependent on the dyeing process.

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WP7 – Project Management
Leader: SSETA

WP7 – Objectives
The objectives of the WP7 were the followings:
• monitoring of technical progress and financial control of the project
• assistance for consortium members to anticipate organizational problems
• setting up of corrective actions in order to respect the objectives of the project

WP7 – Results
The overall commitment of project partners is good and the work and resources between the
RTD performers and the SMEs is well balanced.
The work performed by the RTD performers has allowed a good progress towards the
objectives of the project, in particular in the validation of the pilot plant. Then, the pilot has
been well implemented in collaboration with the SMEs.
The SMEs have well participated to the activities led in particular in the building of the pilot
plant (OBEM, DAMA and HELIOS) and in the performance of the tests in the plant of TSP
and BLONDEL.

1.5 - Project’s relation to the State of the Art


There are many physical and chemical processes available for treatment of textile effluents.
Economic viability is a critical factor in considering end-of-pipe treatment for a given dye-
house effluent. This applies particularly to the challenge of colour removal and the production
of a consistent quantity of treated water suitable for reuse in at least some wet-processing
operations. The range of basic physical and chemical processes that have been used by dye-
houses includes: biochemical and chemical oxidation and reduction, coagulation and
flocculation using inorganic and organic agents, adsorbtion/absorbtion using natural and
synthetic inorganic and organic agents, membrane techniques.
Research continues on novel methods but it is till now clear that a single process may not give
treatment results so satisfactory as to produce water suitable for reuse. Hence, when recycling
is the ultimate target, a multi-step system will be necessary and this is also the approach of
ADOPBIO project.

ADOPBIO system is a combination of a biological treatment and an Advanced Oxidation


Process, that is not a new idea, but we selected two non conventional treatment processes.

Bioflotation is an improved aerobic biological treatment which shows high efficiencies to


reduce the polluting charge of finishing baths. It is based on a high diffusion efficiency of
oxygen in water through an “oxygenation nozzle”, which operates by cavitation, producing a
very fine nebulization with water droplets up to a diameter of 6-20 µm. The fine dimension
allows an intimate contact between water and air; the specific contact surface grows up
enormously (each gram of water contacts an exchange surface ranging from 3.000 to 10.000
cm2, depending on the operation conditions) and increases the capability to diffuse and
solubilize oxygen in water. The system generates a dynamical equilibrium among the active
foam (where the purification of bacterial activity takes place), floating sewage and clarified
liquid. One of the most interesting strength point for bioflotation consists in the use of
surfactant compounds (already present in textile effluents) to increase the activated foam.

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As concern the state of the art of biological processes, we might consider the recent
development of small bio-reactors with microorganism fixed on a solid support, like
membranes, but they seems to be more delicate and difficult to use then Bioflotation.

The situation of AOP is more complicated because, at laboratory level, a lot of different
systems are available for the treatment of wastes, but only ozone have been applied at full
scale level, as a polishing step after the application of a preliminary alternative treatment.
UV lamps are commercially applied for the bactericidal effect or for the remediation of waters
contaminated by low quantities of highly toxic substances. In ADOPBIO UV radiation has
been used as photo-activators of H2O2 to produce OH radicals that are able to oxidize most
organic substances in solution. This system has an efficient effect in the decoloration of
wastewaters containing dyestuffs and in general in the demolition of organic water-soluble
substances. The efficiency of the process is highly influenced by many factors but mainly by
the composition of the solutions. The state of the art of AOPs using H2O2 is, once more, a
combination of tools that look for the increasing of the production of OH radicals or the
exploitation of UV radiation. Ultrasounds and catalysts have been investigated by research
groups and in ADOPBIO we proved iron II salts for their catalytic action that substantially
improved the reaction rate in some of the tested solutions.

Artificial Intelligence Technology for plant operation have been studied for the control of
ADOPBIO system and applied at laboratory level, where some chemical parameters have
been measured in continuous. Artificial neural networks have been applied but other models,
like fuzzy models, spline models, etc. have been used for process control by research groups.

1.6 - Impact of the project on the industry and research sector


The textile finishing industry is one of the most important water consumers in Europe as, for
the moment, water represents the only efficient carrier for dyes and other compounds in the
textile finishing and dyeing processes. A textile finishing company uses in average 100-150
m3 of water per ton of textile material treated. Meanwhile, the availability of water resources
becomes more and more limited.
The wastewater treatment plants, currently installed in the mills, allow only the respect of
legal pollution thresholds and the recycling of little quantities of waters for secondary
activities in the mill (washing of machines). Nevertheless, they do not perform a complete
destruction of the polluting charge and can only transfer, more or less efficiently, the
contaminants from one phase to another, leaving the final environmental and recycling
problem unsolved. In some cases the environmental impact of finishing textile processes
could cause the displacement of polluting activities, with dramatic consequences for company
finances.
The decolouring and cleaning up treatment that AdOPBio intends to develop is based on two
alternative methods: UV-activated photolysis of hydrogen peroxide (for the decolouration of
the spent bath) combined with a bioflotation process (for the destruction of the residual
organic load). The combination of these wastewater treatment processes is expected to
achieve a complete decolourisation of the process waters for every type of dyeing process.
The project will also develop and implement a process-control software based on artificial
neural network and systems dynamics.

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ADOPBIO June 2007
COOP-CT-2004-508723
The main purpose of ADOPBIO project was to built a pilot plant for testing real wastewaters
from dyeing of textiles. The design of the plant derived from a lot of laboratory experiments
and the experience of the partners and has to allow every combination of the two treatment
processes with dyeing:
o Dyeing + AOP
o Dyeing + Bio flotation
o Dyeing + AOP + Bio flotation
o Dyeing with reuse of recycled water + AOP
o Dyeing with reuse of recycled water + Bio flotation
o Dyeing with reuse of recycled water + AOP + Bio flotation
This was achieved integrating in a metallic base all the parts of the plant.
The end-user partners allow us to test a representative selection of dyeing conditions, making
use of disperse, metal-complex or reactive dyestuffs, and so the outcomes of the project will
have a wide impact on the textile industrial sector.
As we know ADOPBIO plant is the only one available

SECTION 2 – DISSEMINATION AND USE

Nb Exploitable Exploitable Sector of Application Timetable for Patent of Owner


knowledge products or commercial IPR and other
measures use protection partners
involved
R1 Integrated AOP system Textile, printing, paper and 12 to 24 months Planned OBEM and
AOP and tannery after the end of the other
Bioflotation the project SMEs are
reactor the owners.
R2 ANN system Process control Waste water treatment 12 to 24 months Planned DAMA and
software plants in textile, printing, after the end of the other
paper,food,pharmaceutical the project SMEs are
industries,hospitals etc the owners

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Period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007 Publishable

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