Assessment of anammox, microalgae and white-rot fungi-based processes for the treatment of textile wastewater

The treatability of seven wastewater samples generated by a textile digital printing industry was evaluated by employing 1) anammox-based processes for nitrogen removal 2) microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) for nutrient uptake and biomass production 3) white-rot fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium) for decolorization and laccase activity. The biodegradative potential of each type of organism was determined in batch tests and correlated with the main characteristics of the textile wastewaters through statistical analyses. The maximum specific anammox activity ranged between 0.1 and 0.2 g N g VSS-1 d-1 depending on the sample of wastewater; the photosynthetic efficiency of the microalgae decreased up to 50% during the first 24 hours of contact with the textile wastewaters, but it improved from then on; Pleurotus ostreatus synthetized laccases and removed between 20–62% of the colour after 14 days, while the enzymatic activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium was inhibited. Overall, the findings suggest that all microbes have great potential for the treatment and valorisation of textile wastewater after tailored adaptation phases. Yet, the depurative efficiency can be probably enhanced by combining the different processes in sequence.

Development of Sustainable Phycoremediation with the help of Chlorella Pyrenoidosa for Textile Wastewater Analysis using Response Surface Methodology

The uncontrolled utilization for the textile products is increasing year by year resulting with the elevating wastewater generated from the textile industries, which makes it among the prevalent sources of critical environmental deteoration issue globally. Products obtained from the dyes used are the primary toxic product for aquatic life, they cause aesthetic pollution, eutrophication, perturbation and increase in BOD and COD in aquatic life. Three types of textile wastewaters (Acid Yellow dye, Acid orange dye and Basic pink dye) has been used for wastewater treatment and microalgal (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) biomass production. Nitrogen content in textile wastewaters is very less, hence urea is used as nitrogen source in wastewater. Optimal growth condition (Urea-0.4g/L, wastewater- 40%(v/v)) is developed through Response surface methodology (RSM). The biomass productivity for chlorella sp. is 1.2-1.5 g/L/day in textile wastewaters. The reduction efficiency of COD, Nitrate-N Ammonia-N, Phosphate-P, and Dye(color) removal for Chlorella is 90-95%, 75-85%, 90-98%, 65-74% and 40-65%.After harvesting the Biomass by flocculation method it can be further used for biofuel production by in-situ transesterification.