Wastewater treatment and management

Even if care is taken to minimize waste, there will still be waste to treat. Currently used wet finishing processes produce waste containing organic as well as inorganic compounds. The efflnents are rich in chemicals of which some are persistent or resistant to water treatment methods. Table 2.1 lists typical examples of finishing waste that resists biodegradation. Removal of these substances from wastewater is expensive and difficult to achieve. Because of this, the effiuent segregation and source reduction methods are preferred as economically attractive alternatives. 

Before starting an end-of-pipe treatment, effiuent segregation is required this separates contaminated fluid from the cleaner streams. The final wastewater is less voluminous and can be treated more effectively and by more appropriate treatment methods, whereas the more clean stream can be reused in the factory with limited or no treatment needed. Vajnhandl and Valh (2014) reviewed the wastewater reuse programs used over the last 10 years covering the European textile finishing industry, with special emphasis on the FP7 project Aquafit4use. The water treatment methodologies presented enable more than a 40% reduction in freshwater consumption. 

Easy-care finishes Urea and melamine derivatives (noncross-linked) 

Flame-retardant finishes Organo-phosphorous componnds, polybrominated compounds 

Surfactants Organic material such as phenols alkylphenol (AP), aUcylphenolethoxylates (APEOs) 

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