POLLUTION PREVENTION STUDIES IN THE TEXTILE WET PROCESSING INDUSTRY by Ilse Hendrickx This thesis is submitted to the Division of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Environmental Engineering APPROVED Give “Shak Ju Grea fue L Grbgofv D. Boardman, Chair John C/ittle April, 1995 Blacksburg, VirginiaPOLLUTION PREVENTION STUDIES IN THE TEXTILE WET PROCESSING INDUSTRY by Ilse Hendrickx Committee Chairman: Gregory D. Boardman Environmental Engineering (ABSTRACT) The objective of this study was to investigate pollution prevention (PP) opportunities in the textile wet processing industry. This industry uses vast amounts of water, energy and chemicals. PP audits were conducted at four textile companies. The companies were located in Virginia and included: a denim and soft wash laundry; a fiberglass yarn processing plant; a plant dyeing and printing cotton fabric; and a nylon yam dyeing and finishing plant. Each company was visited several times, Information about the operations, consumption of water, energy and chemicals were obtained by interviewing personnel Information about wastewater characteristics, permit applications, water treatment and disposal records were obtained from the plant's records. Wastewater samples from several operations were analyzed for COD, DOC, color, TSS, pH and temperature. Lead, copper, zine and chromium concentrations were also determined. The collected information was used to make recommendations to the management of each plant concerning possible implementations. Reusing non-contact cooling water at the fiberglass processing plant will reduce the water consumption by 76% and results in a savings of $ 99,400 per year, if an additional chilling unit is not needed. There were