The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has developed and deployed a new technology to treat wastewater expunged from the textile industry. The pilot plant, installed at Tiruppur, has shown significant fall in harmful compounds, improving the techno-economic feasibility of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) plants, say researchers.
The project developed an innovative electrochemical-based method to treat the discharge from industries, which reduced the photosynthetic activity of plants and living organisms. The conventional ZLD process is capital and energy intensive and leaves a large carbon footprint.
The researchers, led by Indumathi M. Nambi, a professor in the Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (EWRE) Division, Department of Civil Engineering at the institute, conducted lab-scale studies using synthetic wastewater for electrochemical ozone oxidation system to remove organic dyes. The pilot project was implemented at Kunnakalpalayam common effluent treatment plant in Tiruppur district in 2023.
The advantage of the system is the segregation of dyebath effluent for colour removal which reduces 75% load on RO system. It also reduces capital infrastructure cost for RO and rejects evaporators and hence lower carbon footprint is noticed. Chlorine-free colour removal process can avoid the formation of carcinogenic chlorinated compounds.
Ms. Nambi said the total treatment cost could be reduced by 25% and the RO infrastructure cost is cut by 75%. “It efficiently removes colour and organic pollutants without the use of chlorine, which is reported to produce harmful by-products. Our treatment system promotes cleaner water resources and supports healthier ecosystems, aligning with the UN sustainable development goals and advancing environmental responsibility in the textile industry,” she said.
Published – May 17, 2025 12:44 am IST