Pollution load and pre-treatment processes

The nature of textile effluents is very complex as various types of fibres and chemicals are employed in preparing the textiles. Further the process sequence and chemicals employed in the pre-treatment processes vary from fibre to fibre. The quantities of pollutants that form the pollution load going into the waste water thus depend on the amount and kinds of fibres, type of manufacturing operation employed and water consumption practices. 

Approximately 45 million tons of fibres, of which over 50% are cotton, are consumed each year for textile purposes [33]. Although synthetic fibres do not contain any natural impurities, they produce considerable amount of pollutants during wet processing. Table 13.10 gives the characteristics of different processes wastes 

Pollution Loads of Cotton and Wool in Pre-treatment Processes [34] 

Characteristic Effluents from Processing of Synthetic Fibres [35] 

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