Textile effluent treatment methods and eco-friendly resolution of textile wastewater

Abstract

Textile processing is one of the oldest and most technologically complex industries. This industry's fundamental strength stems from its strong production base of a diverse range of fibers/yarns ranging from natural to synthetic fibers and chemicals. Textile mills and their wastewater have grown in proportion to the increase in demand for textile products, causing a major pollution problem around the world. Many chemicals used in the textile wet-processing like dyes and auxiliary chemicals are hazardous to the environment and human health. The global environmental problems associated with the textile industry are typically those related to water pollution caused by the discharge of untreated effluent, and the use of toxic chemicals, during processing. Textile effluent is a critical environmental concern because it reduces oxygen concentrations due to the presence of hydrosulfides and blocks the passage of light through water bodies, both of which are harmful to the water ecosystem. Thus, this review focuses on textile effluent treatment techniques and the physical-chemical treatment parameters taken into consideration during primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment processes. It also discusses effluent of biological-oxygen-demand (BOD) and chemical-oxygen-demand (COD), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity. With more severe restrictions expected in the future, control measures must be implemented to minimize effluent pollution. Textile manufacturing processes encompass pretreatments, dyeing, printing, and finishing operations. These production processes not only consume large amounts of energy and water but also produce a significant amount of waste products. To reduce the impact of textile process pollution, practices like sustainable dyeing, the use of new and less polluting technologies, effective treatment of effluent, and recycling waste processes need to be adapted. Finally, future perspectives, and a summary of the present article are given.