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Pollutionanditscontrol Intextileindustry PDF
Pollutionanditscontrol Intextileindustry PDF
POLLUTION AND ITS CONTROL
IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY
By:
Laxman M. Shinde
Final Year B.TECH
V.J.T.I.
Pollution is the discharge of unwanted material, residue and energy into the
environment. Some of these residues are unconverted raw material, some are
uncovered products and some are by products produced during the
manufacturing or processing. In other words, pollution is a sign of inefficiency in
industrial production and it can be considered as money that is going up the
chimney, down the sewer and out of the plant in waste truck, thus causing loss
to the manufacturer.
The pollution in a composite textile mill can be categorized into three groups:
1. Air Pollution
2. Water Pollution
3. Noise and Vibration Pollution.
Of these, water pollution is more significant compared to other pollution.
Water pollution:
Textile industry is one of the leading consumers of water. It consumes about
3.2% of total consumption of water for various processes such as sizing, scouring,
bleaching, dyeing, printing and other finishing processes. The used water
containing various constituents such as dyes, chemicals is directly released into
the sources of water which gets contaminated and thus resulting into water
pollution. Nowadays the use of synthetic fibres, polymers and finishes by textile
industry is increasing at rapid rate. Since many of these products are resistant to
biological degradation, it causes water pollution when released as effluent into
the water sources.
The seriousness of water pollution depends upon how effectively the above
processes are carried out and also the quantity of water as well as the substrate
or the chemicals used in processes.
The chief sources of water pollution at various stages of processing are as
follows::
Process Possible pollutants Nature of effluents
Printing Dyes, starch, gums oil, China Very small volume, oily
clay, mordants, acids and appearance, fairly high BOD
metallic salts
Finishing Traces of starch, tallow, salts, Very small volume, less alkaline,
special finishes, etc. low BOD
The polluted water is very harmful for human life as well as for various living
organisms on earth due to its odors, colors, turbidity and toxic chemicals present
in it. Therefore these waste streams from different processing operation causing
the pollution will have to be isolated and treated by either physical, chemical or
biological methods or by combination of these methods in order to control water
pollution.
Effects of Important Effluent Characteristics:
1. pH ‐ High alkalinity of waste water has an adverse effect on aquatic life. It also
causes incrustation in sewers and damages crops by impairing their growth.
High acidity causes corrosion of sewers, sewage treatment plant and machinery.
2. Colour ‐ Colors in the stream does not allow the penetration of sunlight at
water surface, essential for photosynthesis which nature follows for self
purification of rivers.
3. Suspended Solids ‐ The suspended solids present in an effluent along with
colors and oily scum increase the turbidity and gives it a bad appearance and
foul smell. Oily scum interferes with oxygen transfer mechanism at air water
interface. Colloidal matters clog the pores of soil by forming a mat, which
reduces water‐holding capacity of soil.
4. Dissolved Solids ‐ High amount of dissolved matter increases the incrustation
in sewers. If most of the dissolved matter is in the form of salts of sodium then it
hardens the soil and thus penetration of air to roots is prevented.
5. Oxygen Demand ‐ Dissolved oxygen is very much essential for the marine life.
The oxygen demand is the amount of oxygen required to correct the effluent,
expressed in form of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) and Chemical
Oxygen Demand (C.O.D.).
Measures to control water pollution:
Following are some of the measures which can help to control the water
pollution to some extent
1. Reduction of Waste Water Volume: The amount or the volume of waste water
can be reduced by directly reducing the amount of water used in process to an
optimum level so that the effluents can be concentrated in smaller volume of
water.
The two procedures commonly used to achieve this reduction are:
• Counter flow processing, for e.g. Wool scouring process and
• Water re‐used technique: In this technique the same water is use several
times before discharging it. The processed water can be re‐used in same
process or in other process, for e.g. Water used to rinse the fabric after
dyeing can be used to make up the different dye solutions.
2. Reduction of Process Chemicals: Over the 90% pollution load is contributed
by the process chemicals. Therefore reducing amount of chemicals used in textile
processes will lead to lower pollution loads. Another benefit of reducing the
amount of process chemicals is the consequent lowering in production cost.
3. Recovery and Reused of Process Chemicals: Pollution as well as the
production cost can be reduced by recovering and reusing the used chemicals
when process is finished, instead of wasting them. For e.g.: caustic soda is
recovered from the mercerizing and scouring process consequently it is filtered
and dialyzed so that it can be reused.
4. Process Modification: the possible modifications in the process as well as its
parameters is another way of eliminating unnecessary wastes and thus helps to
reduced the water pollution for e.g.: substituting the standing baths for rinsing
by running ones thus conserving water and thus reduced waste load
5. Substitution of Chemicals: During processing it is possible to use some
alternate chemicals which can be recovered and reused easily without releasing
as wastes. For eg: synthetic warp sizes can be substituted by starch, gelatins etc.
The following steps are used for treatment of effluent water before it is release
into the water streams, to control water pollution:
1. Primary Treatment: It comprises of neutralization and removal of suspended
solids by sedimentation, flotation, or coagulation technique using alum and
electrolyte.
2. Secondary Treatment: This treatment involves oxidation of organic matter by
aeration, either by chemical or biological method or a combination of both. This
process is carried out in the presence of micro‐organisms developed at the
surface of sewage sludge in presence of chemical nutrients such as urea,
phosphates, etc.
Pollutants resistant to biological oxidation such as detergents and petrochemicals
are removed by non‐biological means to reduce the chemical oxygen demand of
effluent and they are treated again with bleaching powder to disinfect the
effluent before discharging it into sewage.
3. Tertiary Treatment: The tertiary treatments are the chemical oxidation of the
effluents such as:
i. Chemical Coagulation: The effluent is closed with sufficient concentration of
coagulant and pH is adjusted to an optimum value in a mixing tank. The
resultant coagulated material is separated by sedimentation or flocculation and
disposed off as chemical wastes.
ii. Carbon Absorption Technique: This treatment is effective to remove pigments
and dyes by using activated carbon which has a large surface area and can
absorb which has a large amount of organic and inorganic material from the
wastes.
iii. Reverse Osmosis: Wastes are removed from the effluent by use of semi
permeable membrane, usually constructed of cellulose acetate and subjected to
350‐600 pounds per square inch pressure, which is much in excess of the osmotic
pressure of the solution. This causes the passage of water from an area of greater
concentration to a solution of lower concentration. The solvent, in this case
water, is passed through the membrane while the impurities are collected at
membrane surface. This process can remove up to 95% of the dissolved solid
content.
AIR POLLUTION:
Ambient air is a mixture of gases i.e. 78% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen, about 1%
Argon, 0.03% Carbon dioxide & a number of minor gaseous elements such as
Neon, Helium. Methane, Krypton etc. When there is disturbance in the
composition of air due to the particulate matter or gases let out from the
industries into atmosphere, it is considered as Air pollution.
The particulate matter may be in the form of fine dust, aerosols, fumes & gases in
significant quantities.
SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION: Some of the pollutants causing air pollution
are Sulpher dioxide, Metal sulphates, and exhaust gases emanating from
polycondensation, melt spinning fiber lines and the fluff generated during
spinning & weaving processes etc.
Steam which is the energy media has an important role in textile mill and in
processing houses‐both coal and water are used to generate steam and in the
process Carbon, Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide & Sulpher are produced
which again cause Air pollution.
HAZARDS OF AIR POLLUTION: Air pollution is injurious to human being as
well as animals. Air pollution results to moratality to eye, respiratory problems,
irritation, diminishing visibility, obscuration of sunlight, persistence of fog, etc.
Pollutants Effects On Human Being Sources
Sulpher di oxide Irritates respiratory system and Boiler flue gas, rayon
causes bronchitis plant etc.
aldehydes Irritates all parts of respiratory Polyester plant
system
chlorine Causes lung irritation and also Processing house
irritation in eyes
Carbon di oxide Deprives body cells of oxygen Boiler house
and cause unconsciousness by CO
combining with hemoglobin
CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION: In order to control indiscriminate release of
pollutants into the air by industrial units the following steps have been
recommended by “control board of prevention & control of pollution.” So that
air pollution can be kept under control
1. Height of chimneys: Height of chimney plays an important role in controlling
air pollution. The central Board of pollution control after investigation has
prescribed minimum norms by which the height of chimney should not be less
than 30 meters so that the various gases causing pollution are release out of the
vicinity of living organism i.e. plants, animals etc.
2. Gravitational & internal separator: Gravity or inertia is used to remove
particulate matters from air or vapors. The various systems used are:
(a) Settling chambers: The settling chamber is oldest & simplest type of dust
collection equipment. . In this system the polluted air containing solid particles
such as dust, is passed through the chambers. The solid particles having certain
weight get settled down into the chamber due to gravity.
(b) Dynamic separator: In this system, Centrifugal force is used to separate
particulate matters from air stream. Thus, air pollution can be reduced.
(c) Wet cyclones & multiple cyclones: There are most economical systems which
are used as precleaners as well as final collection system. A number of cyclone
equipments put in series are known as multiple cyclones.
3. Filtration: Filters are used to remove particulate matters eg. Dust, lint & fumes.
The filter media is generally woven or sintered metal beds of fibres, metal
turning are also employed. Fibrous mats & aggregate bed filter, paper filters &
fabric filters are very popularly used for this purpose.
Noise and vibration pollution:
Both of these cause hazards to health. This pollution is caused by two sources:
1. Dynamic sources: these are due to air jet, intermittent or periodic discharge of
gas, fan noise, hydraulic pump noise, combustion flow generated noise.
2. Mechanical sources: these are due to impact of bearings and slide ways, tooth
engagement of gears, electronically induced vibration in electric machines, stick‐
slip motion due to friction and impact generated as a part of machine process.
Control of Noise and Vibration Pollution: To control the noise pollution it is
necessary:
i. To assess the problem in terms of the relevant factors to arrive at specification
of goals to be aimed at.
ii. To analyze the problem, isolate the source of noise and vibration.
iii. Reduction of noise or vibration by component redesign or change of process
technology.
iv. Isolation or grouping the source to reduce general exposure or modifying
transmission path between source and receiver.
v. Providing the operator with personal hearing protection and by controlling
their work cycle to limit the noise exposure.
CONCLUSION:
The problem of pollution is harmful not only to the human being but also to the
other living organisms. Therefore it needs attention to be paid on controlling it.
Though some of the methods used to control the pollution are costlier, there are
other certain methods which can be employed in controlling the pollution with
much less efforts and as well as costs. The adverse effects of pollutants and
chemicals on the environment do not show up immediately, therefore long term
studies are needed to control the pollution. Thus paying some attention and
doing some efforts to control the pollution, it is possible to save the environment
from the danger of pollution.
REFERENCES:
1. K.G. ASWANI‐ chemical engineering world
2. H.R. JONES‐ Pollution Control In Textile Industry