Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has developed and deployed an advanced new technology for efficiently processing wastewater from the textile industry.
The discharge from these industries not only affects the aesthetic value and water clarity but also reduces photosynthetic activity and poses toxic risks to humans, aquatic organisms, and other life forms. The technology was deployed at a plant in Tiruppur, and showed significant reduction in harmful compounds, says a release.
The collaborative project, supported by Indo-German Science and Technology Centre has achieved significant milestones in advancing wastewater treatment technology, the release said.
The project focuses on improving the techno-economic feasibility of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plants by developing an electrochemical-based methodology. The technology development was undertaken through comprehensive lab-scale studies using synthetic wastewater ranging from small volumes of 500 ml to larger volumes of 50 Litres for the Electrochemical Ozone oxidation system for the removal of organic dyes.
Led by Prof Indumathi M. Nambi of IIT Madras, the pilot project was implemented at Kunnakalpalayam Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Tirupur district during 2023. It showed a significant reduction in harmful compounds in ECOOP-treated samples compared to chlorinated samples from the CETP. The pilot system has successfully achieved 96% colour removal and 60 per cent COD removal for dyebath effluent.
Based on the results obtained from the initial deployment, the research team scaled up the system to process 400 litres per day. These trials aim to optimise the system for real-world application, the release said.
The Advantages of this technology in comparison to existing technologies include segregation of dyebath effluent for colour removal which reduces 75% load on RO system; reduction in capital infrastructure cost for RO and reject Evaporators and hence lower carbon foot print and chlorine free colour removal process which avoids formation of carcinogenic chlorinated compounds, the release said.
Published on May 16, 2025