Effluent treatment plant

Introduction

Textile is a major source of income and of great importance for Bangladesh’s

economy. At the same time textile processing has major environmental impact.
A large proportion of the environmental issues are related to the use and
discharge of water. Textile manufacturing is among the major industrial water
users. To produce one kg of textile fabrication about 200 liters of water is used.

A lot of chemicals are added to the process for cleaning and dyeing purposes.
Obviously the wastewater effluent from this unit contains considerable amounts
of hazardous pollutants, and where heavy metals are very common. In
Bangladesh most of the effluent from the textile industry is discharged untreated
into rivers. Today 20% of available river water in Bangladesh is polluted by
textile waste water
Water treatment is a very important step to change these conditions and to
achieve a sustainable situation. Bangladesh’s government has an awareness of
this and limits for water effluent quality exist. Unfortunately, this regulation is
not closely supervised and a lot of places do not follow the regulation.

Properties of effluent before processing.

1. Impart color to water bodies even if present in small quantity

2. Not harmful but undesirable for aesthetic reason
3. Reduces light penetration and photosynthesis
4. Carcinogenic or mutagenic
5. Azo dyes are more toxic as they affect microbes thereby affecting
biological degradation treatment.
6. Dyes increases BOD of effluent thereby affecting aquatic life.
7. Salts of chromium and aluminum & iron as mordents in dyes
8. Toxic to fish & microbial organisms
9. The discharge of heavy metals into aquatic ecosystems
10. Increase in alkalinity of water
11. The turbidity and color along with oil and scum create an unsightly
appearance.
The mineral materials, mostly sodium salts increase salinity of the water.
Effluent’s Character
Wastewater discharged from a textile wet processing plant contains various
types of impurities depending on the type of dyes, chemicals, auxiliaries and
process used. Some of these impurities are considered toxic while some are not.
Off course the toxicity or harmfulness also depends on the amount present in a
certain amount of wastewater. Various countries have different standards for
acceptable level of toxicity for various purposes. Different types of water
application also require different level of acceptable toxicity. For example water
is used for drinking purposes, irrigation in the fields, in various types of textile,
chemical, food processing, leather processing and pharmaceutical industries,
and also to maintain the aquatic life in the canals and rivers. In all these cases
different level of purity in terms of toxicity and harmfulness is required. This is
mainly intended for wastewater generated in the various textile wet processing
industries. Therefore, the present discussion will mainly be concentrated on
wastewater generated in various types’ textile-processing industries. Table 1
shows the acceptable level of various parameters of wastewater generated from
textile wet processing industry. This is Bangladesh Standard. The level of
toxicity was considered for water intended to be discharged into river or canals.
The wastewater generated in a textile wet processing industry can be recycled
back for consumption in the plant or even can be used for drinking purposes
but this is expensive enough. So wastewater is generally discharged into the
river or canals.
Table 2.1: Characteristics of wastewater to be discharged into the environment.
(Stipulated by the Dept. of Environment, Government of Bangladesh)

Parameter Limit
PH 6-9
BOD < 50 PPM or mg/L
COD < 200 PPM or mg/L
TSS <100 PPM or mg/L
TDS < 2,500 PPM or mg/L
OIL & GREASE < 10 PPM or mg/L
COLOUR CLEAN
TEMPERATURE < 30 0C

The typical characteristic of wastewater generated in a textile wet possessing

plant is given in table 2.2. Parameters have been referenced about a range rather
than a particular value of the parameters. This is because the characteristics of
textile wastewater for a factory are not always same which may be due to the
variation of raw materials, dyes, chemicals and process. For example a factory
sometime process 100% cotton and sometime process 50/50 cotton & polyester
blend or even 100% polyester. The three different cases will require two
different dyes and chemicals of varying quantity. For white goods no dyes are
used at all, in that case too the effluent characteristics will be different from that
of dyeing effluent. For woven (sized) fabrics the effluent characteristics will be
different from that of knit fabrics. The values shown in table 2 are not actual
tested values of a particular industry rather they are average of various
anticipated wet processing pollution characteristics. The values are assumed on
the basis of experience about the contaminants present in a textile wet
processing industry.

Table 2: Characteristics of wastewater of a typical textile wet processing

industry.
Parameter Limit
PH 8 –14
BOD 400 - 600 ppm
COD 800 - 1,200 ppm
TSS 200 - 500 ppm
TDS 3,000 - 6,000 ppm
OIL & GREASE 30 – 60 ppm
COLOUR Dark Mixed
TEMPERATURE up to 60 0 C

As was mentioned textile wastewater may contain various types of

contaminants but in most cases the toxicity of the above eight parameters are
considered important before discharging them into the environment. The
parameters are now discussed below

Table:3 the characteristics of composite effluents estimated by ATIRA

Characteristics Estimated range

pH value 6.7-9.5
Total alkalinity, mg/l 500-796
TDS, mg/l 2180-3600
Suspended solids, mg/l 80-720
BOD, 20 , 5 days mg/l 60-540
COD, mg/l 592-800
Chlorides (as cl) mg/l 488-1399
Sulphates (as so4) mg/l 47-500
Calcium (as Ca)mg/l 8-76
Magnesium (as M) mg/l 7-53
Sodium (as Na) mg/l 610-2175

Table: 4 the characteristics of effluents from different sectors of textiles

industry

Characteristics Cotton Synthetic Wool scouring

(dyeing)
pH 8-12 7-9 3-10(5-10)
BOD 150-750 150-200 5000-8000(500-600)
COD 200-2400 400-650 100000-200000(1700-
2400)
Alkalinity 180-7300 550-630 80-100(240-300)
Phenol 0.03-1 - -
Oils and grease 4.5-30 - 2000-2500(400-500)
SS 35-1750 50-150 5000-6000(500-700)
TDS 2100-7100 1060-1080 100000-130000(800-
1000)

Table: 5 pollution load of sizing agent

Agents COD(mg O2/g) BOD(mg O2/g)

Starch 900-1000 500-600
CNC 800-1000 50-90
PVA 1700 30-80
polyacrylates 350-1650 50
Glactomanans (Guar 1000-1150 400
gum)
PET dispersions 1600-1700 50
Protein-based 1200 700-800

Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD): The strength of the wastewater is often

determined by measuring the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganism
like bacteria in biodegrading the organic matter. The measurement is known as
the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Microorganisms such as bacteria are
responsible for decomposing organic waste. When organic matter such as dead
plants, leaves, grass clippings, cellulose components, manure, sewage, organic
waste like dyes, fats and oils, or even food waste is present in a water supply,
the bacteria will begin the process of breaking down this waste. When this
happens, bacteria in aerobic process, robbing other aquatic organisms of the
oxygen they need to live, consume much of the available dissolved oxygen.If
there is a large quantity of organic waste in the water supply, there will also be a
lot of bacteria present working to decompose this waste. In this case, the
demand for oxygen will be high (due to all the bacteria) so the BOD level will
be high. As the waste is consumed or dispersed through the water, BOD levels
will begin to decline. Nitrogen and phosphates in a body of water can also
contribute to high BOD levels. Nitrates and phosphates are plant nutrients and
can cause plant life and algae to grow quickly. When plants grow quickly, they
also die quickly. This contributes to the organic waste in the water, which is
then decomposed by bacteria. This results in a high BOD level. The temperature
of the water can also contribute to high BOD levels. For example, warmer water
usually will have a higher BOD level than colder water. As water temperature
increases, the rate of photosynthesis by algae and other plant life in the water
also increases. When this happens, plants grow faster and also die faster. When
the plants die, they fall to the bottom where they are decomposed by bacteria.
The bacteria require oxygen for this process so the BOD is high at this location.
Therefore, increased water temperatures will speed up bacterial decomposition
and result in higher BOD levels. When BOD levels are high, dissolved oxygen
(DO) levels decrease because the bacteria are consuming the oxygen that is
available in the water. Since less dissolved oxygen is available in the water, fish
and other aquatic organisms may not survive. Textile Denim plant wastewater
possesses a very high BOD like 800 – 2500 mg/l. It is necessary to reduce this
BOD value up to a level less than 30 mg/l before discharging them into the
environment like canals or rivers. If a water body of high BOD is discharged
into the sea or very large river then off course the concentration of BOD
decreases due to dilution and has little or no harmful effect on the aquatic life or
environment. Therefore if it is possible to discharge a highly toxic effluent in
sea or large river no treatment is necessary. Though it was not mentioned, the
dissolved oxygen (DO) is a highly significant parameter to define the BOD or
COD of a wastewater. The amount of oxygen present in a certain amount of
water in dissolved state is known as DO. It is normally expressed as mg/l. Water
may contain DO ranging from 0 to 18 mg/l but in most cases of normal waters,
DO lies between 7-9 mg/l. Aquatic lives require certain level of DO to survive
in the water. In case of wastewater the microorganisms require oxygen to
consume the organic wastes. As a result the DO of water decreases
tremendously and becomes a threat to the life of aquatic species. Textile
effluents possess very low DO, which is unsuitable for discharging to the
environment. During treatment of wastewater air is blown through the effluent
when oxygen is dissolved in the effluent as a result DO level raises and as they
DO increases the BOD/COD decreases.

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): This is a means of measuring the ability of

wastewater to sustain aquatic life, essential for the preservation of the
environment. It also enables proper assessment of treatment plant performance.
Aquatic organisms and animals require dissolved oxygen to flourish. The
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) test gives an indication of the impact of
discharge waters on aquatic life by measuring the oxygen depleting nature of
the discharge water.COD is based on the fact that nearly all-organic compounds
can be fully oxidized to carbon dioxide with a strong oxidizing agent under
acidic condition. COD is another common measure of water-borne organic
substances — the process of measuring COD causes the conversion of all
organic matter into carbon dioxide. For this reason, one limitation of COD is
that it cannot differentiate between biologically active and those which
biologically inactive. One major advantage of COD over BOD is that COD can
be measured in just three hours where as BOD measurement takes at least five
days. The value of COD is always higher than BOD, this is because BOD
accounts for only biodegradable organic compounds while COD accounts for all
organic compounds e.g. biodegradable as well as no biodegradable but
chemically oxidisable.

Total suspended Solids (TSS): TSS is mainly organic in nature, are visible and
can be removed from the wastewater by physical/ mechanical means e.g.
screening and sedimentation. TSS is measured by filtering a certain quantity of
effluent and then drying the filtrate at certain temperature e.g. 1050C followed
by weighing. TSS is expressed as parts per million or in milligram/liter. The
pore size of the filter paper is very important in estimating the TSS, the nominal
pore size 1.58 micro metre.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): TDS are the solids that are actually in solution,
similar for example to mix sugar into hot coffee. Dissolved solids generally pass
through the system unaffected. TDS is the sum total of all of the dissolved
things in a given body of water. It is everything in the water that's not actually
water. It includes hardness, alkalinity, cyanuric acid, chlorides, bromides,
sulfates, silicates, and all manner of organic compounds. Every time we add
anything to the water, we are increasing its TDS. This includes not only
sanitizing and pH adjusting chemicals, but also conditioner, algaecides, and tile
and surface cleaners. TDS also includes airborne pollutants and bather waste as
well as dissolved minerals in the fill water. TDS is referred to as the total
amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in
a given volume of water, and are expressed in units of mg per unit volume of
water (ppm).

List of some of the waste materials generated at each level of cotton textile
processing:
Process Air emissions Wastewater Residual wastes
Fiber Little or no air Little or no Fiber waste;
preparation emissions wastewater packaging waste;
generated generated hard waste.
Yarn spinning Little or no air Little or no Packaging waste;
emissions wastewater sized yarn; fiber
generated generated waste; cleaning
and processing
waste
Slashing/sizing Volatile organic BOD; COD; Fiber lint; yarn
compounds metals; cleaning waste; packaging
waste, size waste; unused
starch-based sizes
Weaving Little or no air Little or no Packaging waste;
emissions wastewater yarn and fabric
generated generated scraps; off-spec
fabric; used oil.
Knitting Little or no air Little or no Packaging waste;
emissions wastewater yarn and fabric
generated generated scraps; off-spec
fabric.
Tufting Little or no air Little or no Packaging waste;
emissions wastewater yarn and fabric
generated generated Scraps; off-spec
fabric.
Desizing Volatile organic BOD from water- Packaging waste;
compounds soluble sizes; fiber lint; yarn
from glycol ethers synthetic size; waste;
lubricants; cleaning
biocides; anti- materials, such as
static wipes, rags
compounds and filters;
cleaning and
maintenance
Wastes containing
solvents.
Scouring Volatile organic Disinfectants and Little or no
compounds insecticide residual waste
from glycol ethers residues; NaOH; generated.
and detergents;
scouring solvents fats; oils; pectin;
wax; knitting
lubricants; spin
 finishes; spent
solvents
Bleaching Little or no air Hydrogen Little or no
emissions peroxide, sodium residual waste
generated silicate or organic generated.
stabilizer;
high pH
Singeing Small amounts of Little or no Little or no
exhaust wastewater residual waste
gasses from the generated generated.
burners.
Mercerizing Little or no air High pH; NaOH. Little or no
emissions residual waste
generated. generated.
Heat setting Volatilization of Little or no Little or no
spin finish agents wastewater residual waste
applied during generated. generated.
synthetic fiber
manufacture.
Dyeing Volatile organic Metals; salt; Little or no
compounds surfactants; residual waste
toxics; organic generated.
processing
assistance;
cationic materials;
color; BOD;
sulfide; acidity/
alkalinity; spent
solvents.
Printing Solvents, acetic Suspended solids; Little or no
acid from urea; residual waste
dyeing and curing solvents; color; generated
oven metals; heat;
emissions; BOD; foam
combustion
gasses; particulate
matter.
Finishing Volatile organic BOD; COD; Fabric scraps and
compounds; suspended solids trimmings;
contaminants in toxics; spent packaging waste.
purchased solvents.
chemicals;
formaldehyde
 vapor; combustion
gasses;
particulate matter.
Product Little or no air Little or no Fabric scraps.
Fabrication emissions wastewater
generated generated

TYPES:

There are basically three types of effluent treatment methods. They

are,

1. The physico-chemical method.

2. The biological method.
3. The combine method.

ALLIANCE KNIT COMPOSITE Ltd.

Location: Alliance Knit Composite Ltd. is situated at Saver Industrial area.

Alliance Knit Composite Ltd. has newly joined for textile service among the
world. This is fully export oriented knit composite Textile industry. This
manufacturing industry is well organized with maintaining all the compliance
and environmental issue. They established a physic-chemical Effluent
Treatment Plant with latest technology. They treated 30 meter cube of effluent
per hour. Their wet processing unit is of 5 ton/day capacity. For the better
quality they use a high liquor ratio than the suggestion of dyeing machine
manufacturer. So they have to treat more effluent than the theoretical demand.
Effluent character of “Alliance Knit Composite Ltd.” is discussed;

Process flow chart of ETP

room

Lime
Reaction
Control

Tank
 FeSo4

Polym Filter
er
Acid
Aeration tank

Water Discharge

E
f Equalization tank
f
l
u
e
n Blower
t
I Hydro
n extract
or

Primary Secondar
clarifier y clarifier
Sludge
tank2

Sludge
2

Mainly they use following chemicals for wet processing

1. Detergent (non-ionic).
2. Anti creasing agent.
 3. Hydrogen per oxide.
4. stabilizer
5. Caustic soda.
6. Soda ash.
7. Common salt
8. Glaubers’ salt
9. Washing off agent.
10.Acetic Acid.
11.Softener.
12.Anti foaming agent
13.Optical brightener.
14.Strong alkaline soap

Without these they use a lot of chemicals those vary due to order requirement.
They use two types of dyes; reactive dyes & disperse dyes. Dyes and chemicals
are soluble in water or in colloidal state. Some of suspended solid like wastages
are also flow with raw effluent. They are mainly cotton fibers’ flocks or the
yarn. The raw color of effluent is brown/ blue / black. All the liquors are
coming through same drain of wet processing unit. So washing liquor, dye
liquor, soaping liquor, scouring liquor, acid liquor all are getting mixture from
the very beginning. The temperature, pH, BOD & COD of raw effluent liquor is
given in the following table. In Bangladesh basically these four criteria are
controlled for textile effluent.

Basic characteristics of raw effluent

Sl CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
NO
PARAMETERS UNIT AMOUNT
1. pH 11.8
2. Suspended solids mg/L 378.8
3. Biological Oxygen mg/L 416
Demand(BOD)
4. Chemical Oxygen mg/L 850
Demand(COD)
PHYSICAL CHARECTERISTICS
5. Color Brown to black
6. Odour Not distinct
7. Temperature 65

Picture of raw effluent

According to Alliance knit Composite ltd. Physico-chemical method is

illustrated below:

Screening:

The effluent from the dyeing and finishing is first drained into the screening
chamber. This chamber performs few physical filtrations. There is a series of
netted filters positioned serially. For removing solid particles including
suspended solids, yarn, fibers flocks, thickeners, etc, this process is important.
After passing through these filters the effluent is free from solid bodies.

This chamber has a capability to keep the flowing effluent for two minutes as it
has a volume of 2 cubic meters. The very first netted filter is made of M.S.Bar
rod which is then followed by the second filter made of the same material
having a hole of 4 square centimeter and the last but not the list is a filter made
of stainless still having five holes per square centimeter.

Picture: The screening chamber

Cross-sectional view of sceen

Collection/Equalization Tank:

Here collection tank is nothing but the proper mixing of effluents of different
types. It’s a rectangular tank of 20 m diameter and 2.5 meter surface water
depth. So the volume effluent carrying is 800.75 cubic meter. Effluent is treated
here for 10 hour 40 minutes. Here effluent without suspended solid and oil is
mixed with air by means blower. Air is filtered first and then blows air at 1260
m3 per hour. 585 diffusers are used to supply air to the effluent for treatment.
Here dissolved oxygen of water is increased by the air. The dissolved oxygen’s
quantity is increasing to meet the Chemical oxygen demand by the effluent. 3
blowers are used to blow air for 16 hours continuously. And each blower is
keeping working off for 8 hours. So 2 blowers of 50 kw/ hr are blowing air to
the collection tank. After mixing properly effluent is allowed to pump to
reaction tank.
 Equalization tank

Reaction tank:
Effluent from the collection tank is directly passes to reaction tank for treating
with chemicals used in physico-chemical process. In reaction tank the main
chemistry of physico-chemical method for effluent treating is involved. It bears
maximum maintenance cost for the treatment. This is a highlighted demerit for
this method.

Picture: reaction tank (left) & X-section of reaction tank

Primary clarifier:

Primary clarifier is used to sediment sludge and discharge clear water without
color. As we discussed above that coagulation and flocculation removed all
polis used to sediment sludge and discharge clear water without color. As we
discussed above that coagulation and flocculation removed the toxic elements
from here the crystal clear water is formed but it is alkaline. Here 2 chambers
are used as primary clarifier. Each chamber is allowed to keep 105.625 cubic
meter of effluent. And effluent’s treatment duration is about 2 hour 49 minutes.
Picture: X-section of primary clarifier and the surface primary clarifier.

This chambers bottom is sloped down around 45 degree to sediment sludge

easily. Effluents from reaction tanks are directly pass to this tank. Here sludge
sediment at bottom and the clear effluent pass out by means of over flow. Later
a significant amount of sludge is pumped out to the sludge tank. Here the
delivery effluent is alkaline and a fewer hot than the atmospheric temperature.
The over flowed effluent is directly pass to the aeration chamber.

Aeration tank:

In aeration tank basically aeration is occurred by means atmospheric air. Air

from atmosphere is firstly filtered then blower sucks them and flows air to the
aeration tank through 860 diffusers. There are three blowers are used to perform
their function. Every blower is running for 16 hours in the set of two. And every
blower pauses blowing for 8 hours every day. Usually two blowers are running
all the time to blow 1500 cubic meter of fresh air per hour. 860 diffusers are
uniformly distributed around the 470 sq meter area.
Picture: blowers for aeration. Picture: aeration system to
tank

Diffusers are kept at bottom of the tank floor. Blower takes air from atmosphere
and then it passes though pipe to the diffusers. Then diffusers supply air as well
as oxygen to the effluent. These blowers possesses the 25% cost of the plan.
Blowers are highly stronger than the normal. These blowers are micro chipped
program with the reader JUMO GMBH (it is a dissolve oxygen reader). When
the dissolved oxygen comes up to 7.6 mg/L then the inverter of blowers’ motor
worked to reduce rpm of blower.
These are the description of plan for aeration tank. Now the question how does
the function of air? This aeration does nothing but increase the quantity of
dissolve oxygen. 4700cubic meter effluent is treated here for 47 hours, it’s a
huge time. During this time oxidative chemicals are liked to fill up their oxygen
demand from the water. That’s why increasing amount of dissolved oxygen is
required to meet the demand. Without this the aquatic life in this tank ie,
bacteria demands oxygen which is also filled up by this dissolved oxygen.

These are all about air, at aeration tank. During aeration bacteria is also
involved to degrade effluents. Next chemical reactions will describe better.

.Secondary clarifier:
Picture: Secondary clarifier

In aeration chamber acid is given to neutralize the solution with stirring.

Though manufacturer suggests using a scrapper but the authority does not as
they don’t need to use it. Without stirring relatively a few hot effluents is
become cool naturally. Aeration tank has an open area around 490.625 sq. meter
and its volume for effluent capacity is 2060.625 cubic meter. Effluent is treated
here for 23 hour which is a huge time. So temperature is naturally fall down
easily.
The inlet pH of the effluent is 11.8. to neutralize its alkalinity around 7 liters of
33% concentrated hydrochloric acid per cubic meter is used. After
neutralization its pH comes down to 7.16.
If any sludge remains in the effluent they are allowed to sediment again in the
secondary clarifier. From aeration tank neutralized effluent is entered to the
secondary clarifier. 212 cubic meters this is kept here for 2 hour 52 minutes. Its
time is sufficient enough to sediment sludge. The ground of secondary sludge is
sloped down around 15 degree. Here treated effluent is also passing by means of
over flowing. From here treated effluent is directly discharged to the cannel.
Sludge from here is also passes to sludge tank by means of pumping
arrangement.

Filtration: In filters, such as Pressure Sand Filter (PSF), the filtered waste
water has to be regularly checked for quality (such as total suspended solids,
trace elements, and residual chlorine) so that backwashing can be affected at the
right time. Since regular sampling and analysis may not be possible in a large
treatment facility, backwashing is automated with regular time intervals when
the filtration flow is expected to decrease to a certain level. The chosen time
interval for backwash operation is normally fixed arbitrarily based on the
experience and expertise of the plant operator. Choosing an arbitrary backwash
interval may not be a perfect decision. It is possible that the planned time
interval for backwash operation may either be longer or, shorter than it is
actually necessary in most of the cases – as the feed quality and the condition of
the treatment unit changes continuously. If frequent backwash is carried out, it
may increase the downtime and reduce overall treatment capacity. Since
backwash operation is normally conducted with water recovered from the
reverse osmosis system down the line, frequent backwash can also result in
overall decrease in the output of reusable water. Instead, if the backwash is
delayed, it may reduce the operating capacity and filter efficiency. Thus, it is
vital to optimize the filters for better performance to increase operating
efficiency and reduce the maintenance cost.
 Picture of filter

Outlet water:
Outlet water is colorless and odourless. Before draining the ETP water pH
should be controlled in at range of 6-9.
 Picture of outlet water

Sludge tank:
In sludge tank there is a sand filtration system in which 2 feet of sand layer is
kept and above that sand sludge is deposited. At the ground of tank there is a
pipe arrangement with filtration which allows effluent without sludge passing to
the collection tank. This is again treated.

Picture: Sludge tank

Hydro extractor:

Hydro extractor is a water removal machine. In effluent treatment plant hydro

extractor is used to remove water from sludge thickener and finally to form
sludge cake. There are many processes those are used to make cake from sludge
but in Alliance Knit Composite Ltd. hydro extractor is used. Hydro extractor is
easy to work. In sludge thickener tank, sludge pumps and put on the hydro
extractor machine and switch on the machine. Here extra water is remove from
the sludge and form cake.
 Picture: Hydro extractor
Sludge:

The settable solids separated from the liquid during sedimentation

(clarification). The sludge is very toxic in nature and needs to be deal with very
carefully. Under no circumstances it should be mix with the environment again.

Picture of sludge cake

Results of Effluent Treatment (physico-chemical)

Bangladesh Quality
S Effluent Quality Concentratio Concentratio Standard at Discharge
L parameters n n Public
N present in present in Inland Swear at Irrigat
O raw effluent treated surface secondar ed
. effluent water y land
treatmen
t plant
mg/L (WASA
) mg/L
mg/L mg/L
mg/L

1 pH 11.8 7.16 6-9 6-9 N/A

Biological
2 Oxygen Demand 450 45 50 250 100
(BOD)

3 Chemical Oxygen
 Demand (COD) 750 180 200 400 400

4 Time 50 hours

Costing:
Costing is a secret thing that did not provide me of authority of Alliance Knit
Composite Ltd. They have provided me approximately cost of ETP that is
tk10000 for 720 m3. So per m3 cost is approximately tk1.39.

Advantages of Physico-chemical method:

1. This process posses a very low fixed cost which is around 80, 00,000 tk.
2. Discharge effluent is colorless.
3. Effluent is 100% pollutant free.
4. Non-biodegradable chemicals can treat here.
5. Its maintenance does not demand highly skill professionals.
6. It is applicable from all kinds of textile industries.
7. It is very simple in technology.
8. Dyer does not need to select chemicals with respect to its effluent
treatment.
9. It occupies minimal spaces around 15 kathas.
10. It possesses less treatment duration rather than biological treatment
method which is around 50hours.

Disadvantages of physico-chemical method:

1. Treatment cost is very high around 12.92 tk per cubic meter. Cost will
be equivalent with its fixed cost within 396 days (14 months) from its
installation. Economically it brings loss.
2. This method is not that much modernized.
3. It is chemical based for this reason treatment efficiency is highly
depended on its chemicals strength.

Conclusion: At present wet processing industry in Bangladesh are under

pressure to install ETP. For financial and space constraints, it is difficult to meet
the deadline of installation. From our findings, we like to state that it may not be
necessary to use all methods to meet the permissible limit of the parameters set
by the Department of Environment. One suitable method may be good enough
to fulfill the requirements.
1. Screen Chamber
2. Receiving Sump
3. Equalizing Tank
4. Flash mixer
5. Clarriflocculator
6. Aeration Tank
7. Clarifier
8. Sludge Well
9. Sludge Thickener
10. Centrifuge
11. Generator Room
12. Office Lab
13. Transformer
14. Sludge Drying Beds

P : Pump