New technology for textile industry in IIT-M researchers cuts down harmful compounds and improves sustainability

Indian Institute of Technology Madras has developed and deployed a new technology to treat wastewater from the textile industry. The pilot plant installed in Tiruppur showed a significant drop in harmful compounds, improving the technical and economic viability of zero-liquid emission (ZLD) plants, the researchers said.

The project develops an innovative electrochemistry-based approach to treating industry emissions, thereby reducing photosynthesis in plants and organisms. The traditional ZLD process is capital and energy intensive and leaves a huge carbon footprint.

The researchers are led by Indumathi M. Nambi, professor of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (EWRE), the Institute’s Department of Civil Engineering uses synthetic wastewater for electrochemical ozone oxidation systems for laboratory-scale studies to remove organic dyes. The pilot project will be implemented in 2023 at Kunnakalpalayam General Sewage Treatment Plant in Tirupur District.

The advantage of this system is the isolation of dyed wastewater to remove color, thereby reducing the load of the RO system by 75%. It also lowered RO’s capital infrastructure costs and rejected evaporators, thus noting a lower carbon footprint. The chlorine-free removal process can prevent the formation of carcinogenic compounds.

Ms. Nanbi said the total treatment costs could be reduced by 25% and the RO infrastructure costs were reduced by 75%. “It effectively removes color and organic pollutants without the use of chlorine, which has been reported to produce harmful by-products. Our therapeutic systems promote cleaner water resources and support healthier ecosystems, align with the development goals of non-sustainable development and promote environmental responsibility in the textile industry,” she said.