Application of Ionizing Radiation for Sustainable Textile Effluent Treatment Plant

Abstract

In the rapid growing world, the demand for clothing especially the readymade garment is one of the key economy factors for the developing countries where cheap manpower is available. But, although having a vital role in the total economy, the textile industry development is not sustainable in the South Asian region causing serious degradation to the environment for its high ground water consumption and large waste discharge. In this research the amount of effluent production was reduced by the application of irradiated chitosan which modify the cotton surface and facilitate it to absorb more color at a lower dye concentration. Raw textile effluent was also treated by gamma radiation and physico-chemical properties were measured. Textile effluent treated by gamma radiation was used for the coloration of cotton fabrics with reactive dyes in exhaust method at 60°C where fresh water served as control. Color fastness to wash, rubbing and perspiration were evaluated. Samples showed very high competitiveness with control samples thus opening a new era for of textile effluent reuse. Irradiated effluent also showed excellent plant growth when irrigated to Malabar spinach plants (80% more dry weight) where raw effluent showed significant growth retardation. Minerals content of the plant was also studied and significant increase of minerals content was found in the samples irrigated with treated effluent than the samples irrigated with fresh water. So, this paper represents a very promising technique for the sustainable development in the textile sector leading to zero waste production facility.