Treatment of textile sludge using anaerobic technology

Abstract

Composite samples of sludge obtained from a textile factory were characterized for their pollution characteristics using some parameters of interest; pH, solids concentration, oxygen demand, nitrogen,
phosphorus, total bacteria counts etc. The analysis revealed that the sludge has high pollution potentials and therefore needed treatment before disposal to the environment. The ratio of chemical
oxygen demand, (COD) to that of biochemical oxygen demand, (BOD) was 3.08; meaning the sludge has high substrate biodegradability. Samples were subjected to mesophilic anaerobic treatment at the
temperature of 35±2°C. The method achieved solids reduction of 61% total solids, 68% settleable solids and 51% volatile solids and a total bacteria reduction of 99.99%. The reduction in BOD and COD were
89% each. Nitrate and phosphate were found to reduce substantially thereby preventing eutrophication due to undesirable nutrients. The anaerobic treatment was found to have an additional benefit of
producing biogas (methane and carbon (IV) oxide) which if harnessed may be used as fuel.