Research on Removal of Coloured Organic Compounds from Textile Industry Wastewater

The manuscript presents the results of the research regarding the efficiency of removal of coloured organic compounds from textile industry wastewaters with the use of Fenton reaction and simultaneous process of sorption and oxidation in the presence of activated carbon and hydrogen peroxide (or magnesium peroxide) as well as in the presence or absence of UV radiation. The most efficient method - guaranteeing the oxidation of organic compounds and decolourization of the solution indicated by the 80% reduction in COD (as compared to the initial value) within the period of 1 h - was the use of Fenton reaction. The application of combined processes of sorption and oxidation with the use of activated carbon and hydroxen peroxide in order to remove the organic pollutants from the examined wastewaters resulted in 64% reduction in COD, but only after 24 hours. Replacing hydrogen peroxide with magnesium peroxide accelerated the process of sorption and / or oxidation of organic pollutants leading to 50% reduction in COD after 2 hours of reaction. At the same time, initiating the decomposition of H2O2 with the formation of OH* radicals in the activated carbon/hydrogen peroxide system resulted in an effective decomposition of organic compounds, which is indicated by 60% reduction in COD after 2 hours. This solution appears to be the most promising, since after the separation of activated carbon (which can be further re-used) a colourless, transparent solution of pH of 6,5 - 7,5 is obtained, which can be disposed into the municipal sewage system.