COD removal from textile industry effluent: pilot plant studies

This work involved the treatment of industrial waste water from a nylon car pet printing plant. As dyeing of nylon is particularly difficult, acid dyes , fixing agents, thickeners, finishing agents, are required for successful colouration and cause major problems with the plant's effluent disposal in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Granular activated carbon (GAC) Filt rasorb 400 was used to treat a simulated process plant effluent containing all the pollutants. Equilibrium isotherm experiments were established and e xperimental data obtained showed good empirical correlation with Langmuir i sotherm theory. Column experimental data, in terms of COD were correlated u sing the bed depth service time (BDST) model. Solid phase loading in the co lumns were found to approach that in equilibrium studies indicating an effi cient use of adsorbent. The results from the BDST model were then used to d esign a pilot adsorption rig at the plant. The performance of the pilot pla nt column were accurately predicted by scale-up from the bench scale column s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.