Suitability of conventional and membrane bioreactor system in textile mill effluent treatment

Effluents from the industries contaminate surface water, soil and groundwater due to the presence of soluble solids, suspended solids, organic matter, heavy metals and toxic constituents. This necessitates treatment of the discharged wastewater and determination of effluent quality. The situation is very alarming for Tirupur due to textile industries effluent, affecting water consumption pattern around the whole area that generates high stress on groundwater resources as well as agricultural productivity. The present study is based on the general characterization of the quality of effluent before and after installation of conventional effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment systems. The performance evaluation of CETPs and MBR systems in textile mill effluent treatment was carried out in terms of effluent quality and treatment efficiency. The findings revealed that the CETPs were efficient in removal of total dissolved solids, bicarbonate (HCO3-) total major cations and Cd however, the MBR system was more efficient in removal of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, SO42-, Zn, Pb and Cr. On the basis of findings, it can be concluded that the MBR system serve as an effective alternate in treating the industrial wastewater specially for textile effluent treatment with major advantages like less sludge generation, compact and ease in operation and small footprints, in comparison with conventional treatment systems.