Treatment and reuse of wastewater produced in the textile industry

Scenario

The wastewater from this project is characterized by a high content of suspended solids, COD, color and turbidity. In addition, the client requests the reuse of the treated wastewater by reincorporating it into the production process.

Based on the customer's requests and objectives, COLORTEX designs and supplies a complete wastewater treatment plant that enables its reuse and discharge in compliance with administrative requirements. 

The treatment consists of: 

• Biological sludge blanket reactor: the unique inverted cone-shaped design allows the formation of a sludge filter, and enables a much more effective separation of sludge and water than with a common settler. Sludge blanket filtration allows all transformation processes such as activation, nitrification, denitrification and dephosphorization to be carried out in the same reactor. Space requirements are reduced and operating and maintenance costs are low. 
• PFL-140 in-line flocculation equipment: this physicochemical system is applied on the effluent of the biological reactor. In the PFL system, the processes of coagulation, flocculation, de-emulsification, precipitation and pH control are carried out under defined and extremely controlled conditions. The advantages are: no maintenance costs, no moving parts, high quality and durable materials, no additional energy input, uniform floc formation, compact, full control of process conditions. Reagent dosing is established by Jar-Test with water samples at the outlet of the biological reactor. In the case of COLORTEX, a cationic polyelectrolyte is applied. 
• SIGMA DAF FPAC-160 Clarifier: this system is a cross-flow separator of reduced height, the injection of air micro bubbles allows the separation of the flocs formed in the PFL and the obtaining of a clarified water free of suspended solids, turbidity and color. The FPAC system allows the treatment of water with a high solids load, is a compact system, includes a unique sludge dewatering and separation system allowing a sludge concentration of up to 5%, requires low maintenance and is easy to operate. These systems can be designed exclusively for each type of effluent. 
• Sand bed filter: applied as a tertiary treatment for the reuse of water in the production process. These filters allow achieving optimum qualities of the treated water for its reincorporation as raw material in the textile process. It is a robust, high resistance and high quality equipment, including a control panel that allows easy handling. Tertiary treatment achieves zero discharge and the conversion of waste into a resource. 

Sludge treatment is also designed by thermal drying with a high efficiency cyclonic spiral system. This technology allows drying, condensation, dewatering and sterilization for absolute final dryness. 

The treatment designed and installed by SIGMA achieves COD removal efficiencies of 95%, suspended solids removal of 95% and turbidity and color removal of 90%. 

Characteristics of the wastewater: BLACK OPAQUE COLOR

Performance

Process diagram