Grantee Research Project Results
Electrochemical Treatment of Textile Effluents with Simultaneous Recovery of Toxic Metals
EPA Contract Number: 68D98114Title: Electrochemical Treatment of Textile Effluents with Simultaneous Recovery of Toxic Metals
Investigators: Tennakoon, Charles
Small Business: Lynntech Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1998 through March 1, 1999
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , SBIR - Water and Wastewater , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The large quantity of aqueous waste generated by the textile industry is a significant environmental problem. Dye effluents contain chemicals that are toxic to fish and mammalian species. There is currently no single economically feasible method of treating textile effluents. Conventional biological processes have not proven to be particularly effective. Similarly, for disperse dyes, carbon adsorption and ozonation result in poor color removal. Chemical coagulation and reverse osmosis result in a large proportion of color removal, but the former produces large amounts of toxic sludge while the latter involves high capital costs. The novel concept in this Phase I project deals with treating textile wastewaters by an electrochemical approach where oxidation of organic waste is achieved together with the recovery of toxic metals (chromium and copper) found in textile dyes. High molecular weight dyes are decomposed into low molecular weight compounds, which are amenable to biodegradation. Preliminary results have clearly demonstrated the feasibility and the high potential of the new technology to efficiently decompose textile dyes and recover toxic metals resulting from dye decomposition. The objective of this SBIR project is to identify the key features and optimize specific process parameters to achieve maximum process efficiency.Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, wastewater, engineering, chemistry, EPA., Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Waste, Water, Sustainable Industry/Business, National Recommended Water Quality, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Chemistry, Wastewater, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Environmental Engineering, 33/50, Hazardous, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, electrochemical technology, wastewater treatment, chromium & chromium compounds, industrial wastewater, Chromium, metal recovery , toxic metals, chemical contaminants, metal recovery, electrochemical techniques, treatment, electrochemical, copper, contaminant removal, toxic metals removal, control technologies, water treatment, metal removalProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.