Discoloration of industrial effluents by adsorption-based treatment onto coal fly ash activated with lime

• Published in: Desalination and water treatment 2018-09, Vol.127, p.364-376
• Main Author: Zaharia, Carmen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; AXi Adsorbent regeneration; Cleaning technology; Coal ash modified with lime; Discoloration; Textile effluent
• ISSN: 1944-3986
• DOI: 10.5004/dwt.2018.22786

The paper presents the experimental discoloration data performed by adsorption-based treatment onto coal fly ash activated with lime (named as AXi, i = 1,…,4) applied to a real industrial effluent (i.e., textile effluents from a few technological steps as chemical finishing, washing/rinsing of cotton fabrics), collected before entrance in the wastewater treatment plant. The main operating parameters tested for high efficiency of discoloration, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and phenol removals were pH, adsorbent concentration, temperature, and contact time. The results are encouraging (61%–98% removals, with 5–20 g of AXi/L), helping the industrial operator to respect the requirements from the compliance plan imposed by the environmental regulator for legal and environment-friendly operating of textile manufacturing plant, and nonpolluting discharges in the natural aquatic receptor. Also, this one-single treatment step can be easily integrated in the existing wastewater treatment plant, and will help the industrial operator to recycle at least 50%–60% of its treated effluents in the textile technological manufacturing flux, or other reuse.