International Journal of ChemTech Research

CODEN (USA): IJCRGG ISSN : 0974-4290

Vol.6, No.6, pp 3332-3335, Aug-Sep 2014

ICMCT-2014 [10th – 12th March 2014]

International Conference on Materials and Characterization Techniques

Treatment of Textile Effluents by Ion-Exchange Polymeric

Materials

V. Parameswaran1,3, E.R. Nagarajan2,* and A. Murugan2

1
Department of Chemistry, Kalasalingam Institute of Technology,
Krishnankoil - 626126, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Department of Chemistry, Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil - 626126,
Tamil Nadu, India
3
Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University,
Coimbatore - 641046, Tamil Nadu, India

*Corres. Author: nagarajanklu@gmail.com

Abstract: Textile effluent was collected from the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) of textile industries
located at Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The effluents was characterized by the physico-chemical
parameter such pH, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), colour, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological
oxygen demand (BOD). The raw textile effluent which possesses the pH around 9.0 was neutralized by using
sulfuric acid and adjusted to neutral. The neutralized effluent was passed to biooxidation process set-up and
allowed to stay for 48 hours. The analysis results shows that colour (60%) of the effluent was reduced
drastically and then passed through sand filter. The aforesaid analyses were made for the outlet water which
was collected after the sand filtration (Turbidity: 1.53, TSS: 3. COD: 120).
The outlet water of sand filter was directly passed through ion-exchange polymeric material (can
regenerate after exhausted) and characterized. On the other hand, the outlet water was passed through micron
filter paper (0.45 μ) (Turbidity: 0.02, TSS: <1. COD: 104), and then passed through ion-exchange polymeric
material. The analysis result shows that the later one impart better quantity as well as quality of treated water
since all the turbidity and TSS can be prevented by micron filter. The efficiency of the polymeric materials is
augmented.
Key words: textile effluent; biological treatment; polymeric resin; colour removal.

Introduction
Environmental pollution has been recognized as one of the major problems of the modern world. The
increasing demand for water and dwindling supply has made the treatment and reuse of industrial effluents an
attractive option. One of the most important environmental pollution problems is the colour in water courses,
although some of this colour is normally present and of "natural" origins (e.g. the colour originates from the
activity of some microorganisms in ponds), a considerable proportion, especially in the lower reaches of rivers
E.R. Nagarajan et al /Int.J. ChemTech Res.2014,6(6),pp 3332-3335. 3333

draining large industrial conurbations, originates from industrial effluents. Some coloured effluents are
associated with the production and use of dyestuff (1-4).
Bioremediation provides a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the natural biodegradation
process. So by developing an understanding of microbial communities and their response to the natural
environment and pollutants, expanding the knowledge of the genetics of the microbes to increase capabilities to
degrade pollutants, conducting field trials of new bioremediation techniques which are cost effective, and
dedicating sites which are set aside for long term research purpose, these opportunities offer potential for
significant advances (5). In biological treatment, after degradation of direct orange-102 by Pseudomonas
fluorescents showed that direct orange-102 degraded into another compound. It was not-toxic in nature.
Biological treatment is the only way for ultimately controlling the pollution generated by textile and dye-stuff
industries (6). The present investigation focus on removal of colour (60%), turbidity, total suspended solids
(TSS) from textile effluent by biological methods and measured the parameters such as pH, COD and BOD.
The remaining 40% of colour removal is achieved by the treated water passed through the polymeric resin.

Materials and Methods

Sampling: The textile effluent was collected from industrial area of Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu, India and
transported to laboratory at 4oC as in accordance with the standard methods (7). The parameters such as pH,
Turbidity, COD, BOD, Colour and TSS were analyzed (7, 8).
Bio-oxidation setup: Cow dung was collected and dissolved in water with supplying continuous air for
the growth of microorganism. To increase the rate of its growth, aerobic microorganism collected from an
existing biological treatment plant and starch were added as food.
Treatment process: The pH of the raw textile effluent was maintained around neutral. The neutral
effluent was sent to bio-oxidation process and allowed to stay for 48 hours. Then it was passed to sedimentation
unit and filtered (Fig. 1).

Results and Discussion

The neutral effluent was fed to bio-oxidation process and allowed to stay for 48 hours. Then it was
passed to sedimentation unit and the superannuated biologically treated water was feed through sand. The sand
filtrate was stored and passed through polymeric resin. The another portion of the same sand filtrate was also
passed through 0.45 micron filter followed by polymeric resin.
The characterization results of effluent before and after feeding through polymeric resin is presented in
Table 1 and 2, respectively.

Fig. 1. Schematic representation of treatment of textile effluent.

E.R. Nagarajan et al /Int.J. ChemTech Res.2014,6(6),pp 3332-3335. 3334

Table 1. Characterization of effluent before feeding through polymeric resin

Parameters Raw effluent After sedimen- Sand filter 0.45 micron paper
tation filtrate filtrate filtrate
pH 8.99 7.76 7.75 7.56
Turbidity (NTU) 85.2 7.28 1.53 0.02
TSS (mg/L) 152 14 3 <1
Colour (Pt-Co unit) 1856 760 760 760
COD (mg/L) 654 124 120 104
BOD (mg/L) 208 4 4 2

Table 2. Characterization of effluent before feeding through polymeric resin

Parameters Before feeding After feeding into polymeric resin

into polymeric
resin After passing thro’ After passing thro’ sand
sand filer followed by micron filter
pH 7.75 7.68 7.70
COD (mg/lr) 120 72 68
Colour (Pt-Co unit) 760 42 36
Quantity recovered --- 2.240 2.780
from column (litre)

The pH of the raw effluent sample was slightly alkaline (pH = 8.99) and it was neutralized. Then this
effluent passed to biological setup tank, sand filter and micro-paper filter, pH values were reduced from raw
effluent ( ie. 7.76, 7.75 and 7.56 from 8.99). Decrease in pH of the effluent indicates significantly improved the
bacterial count under redox-mediating compounds (9). COD and BOD values decreased from mixing tank to
micro paper filter indicate that efficient degradation of organic matter in the effluent. Thus the microorganisms
consume the organic compounds present in textile effluent as food and thus decrease the dissolved solid and
produce suspended solid as well as reduce the oxygen demand the effluent water.

The TSS values get reduced from 152 to <1NTU. There was observed decrease in TSS from raw
effluent with an increase in bacterial count and declining pH suggested process of flocculation (as TSS).
Microbial community in the presence of air establishes itself in granulated floc as activated sludge plays a vital
role in biodecolorization of effluent. The treated water after passing through polymeric resin and also the same
water was passed through micron filter from sand filter followed by polymeric resin was compared. The results
of later impart very good yield (20% added) and the life time of polymeric resin is also extended.

Conclusion
Textile effluent was treated by biological methods and the results indicate that colour is reduced around
60% and the same biologically treated water passed through polymeric resin, the colour removal is achieved
95%. The water after passed through micron filter and then polymer resin, obtained significantly improved
quantity and quality. The processing time of the resin is also increased.

References

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