Macro algae based adsorption for treatment of cotton processing wastewater

Abstract

In the recent advances in treatment of different industrial wastewater, an attempt is made to treat the wastewater produced in demand of dyes and is used to make bandages and surgical cotton using freshwater macro algae. In the treatment method adopted here is focused on reducing the organic and inorganic pollutants present in the wastewater in the form of COD, BOD, Nitrate, Ammonia, Phosphate and Sulphate. Cotton processing wastewater contains high level of tCOD and sCOD in the order of 15000. Initially, Fresh water Green Macro algae is grown in freshwater Bolds Basal Medium (BBM). Tests were conducted with different dilution of Medium, Wastewater and Macro algae. The concentration of COD, NO3, NH4, PO4, and SO4in the real wastewater found to be 4800mg/l, 60.236mg/l, 4.110mg/l, 19.132mg/l, and 2.239mg/l respectively. Finally, after 10 days of continuous treatment of cotton wastewater using macro algae was found to be 1600mg/l, 7.30mg/l, 1.970mg/l, 4.800mg/l, and 1.009mg/l respectively. COD concentration of 1600 mg/l was still not a safe value to be finalized for a safe disposal, it has been observed that due to the high toxicity of the wastewater, macro algae are unable to treat the wastewater further. Solids like Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Fixed Solids (FS) and Total solids (TS) are also noted and studied during the treatment.