Textile wastewater treatment with membrane bioreactor and water re-use

Abstract

The textile processing industry, from among the larger industrial consumers of water is a prime candidate for the development of intensive water recycling strategies and the recovery of valuable chemical products. Most studies have been directed towards the treatment of final effluent (end-of-pipe approach) in order to deal with the problems associated with textile waste water. New technologies, such as MBR, enable water re-use in combination with additional membrane filtrations, as a post-treatment step. An important feature of MBR is the possibility of employing high sludge concentrations, facilitating the growth of specialised micro-organisms, and promoting improved organic degradation. In this review, the characterisation of coloured wastewaters and the treatment methods are discussed, not only to enable water discharge but also its re-use. Kew words: textile coloured wastewater, biodegradation, membrane bioreactor