B6-319 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 15, District 11, HCMC

Tel: 08.38665645
Fax: 08.38665644
Web: www.congnghexanh.com.vn

TREATMENT OF TEXTILE WASTEWATER USING

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVATED SLUDGE METHOD COMBINED
WITH COAGULATION
ABSTRACT
The wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the pilot scale and the reality (1000 m3/day capacity)
of Xuan Huong Textile Co. was investigated and built by a combination between the activated
sludge treatment and the coagulation-flocculation method. The analyzed wastewater results
showed the effective performance in the COD and TSS removal. With 80% removal efficiency
for all factors, our chosen technology was proved as a right choice in textile wastewater
treatment. The effluent meets Vietnamese standard TCVN 5945:2005, C level.
Keywords: Textile wastewater, Aerotank, Coagulation-Flocculation tank

1. INTRODUCTION
Textile wastewater is the combination of wastewater from various stages of production: fibers
preparation, yarn, thread, webbing, dyeing and finishing. According to experts, a textile factory
uses a large amount of water for manufacturing utilization in average, in which dyeing and
finishing stages use almost 72.3% [3]. Considering both the volume generated and the effluent
composition, the textile industry wastewater is reated as the most polluting among all industrial
sectors [5].
Important pollutants in textile effluent are mainly recalcitrant organics, color, toxicants and
inhibitory compounds, surfactants, chlorinated compounds (AOX- Adsorbable Organohalogens),
salts, high temperature (at least 40C), and high pH due to the large amount of alkali in
wastewater. Dye is the most difficult constituent of the textile wastewater to treat, especially azo
dyes-the class of dyes most widely used industrially, having a world market share of 60-70%.
However, reactive dyes are easily washed off during the dyeing process, therefore, the residue
dye always presents in the dye bath effluent, as much as 50% of the initial dye load [5]. This is
the reason why the color and the pollutants concentration in textile wastewater are high.
The factors considered to choose the appropriate textile wastewater treatment plant are: treatment
efficiency, economic efficiency, characteristics and flowrates of the influent, composition and
concentration of the influent, Three methods which are usually used in textile wastewater
treatment plant are: physico-chemical methods, advanced oxidation methods, and biological
sludge methods. The physico-chemical methods with coagulation-flocculation, flotation and
adsorption can treat effectively the color and BOD in the influent. However, the disadvantages of
this method are the high chemical cost and the large amount of physic-chemical sludge (0.52.5kg TS/ m3 treated wastewater). With the advanced oxidation methods, the usual oxidants are
Chlorine (Cl2), Hydroxy Peroxide (H2O2), and Ozone (O3), in which Cl2 is the most economical
oxidant. The disadvantages of the advanced oxidation methods are the high investment and

B6-319 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 15, District 11, HCMC

Tel: 08.38665645
Fax: 08.38665644
Web: www.congnghexanh.com.vn

operation costs. In addition, aerobic and anaerobic activated sludge processes are also evaluated
as high performance treatments; however, the long retention time and low recalcitrant organics
removal performance reduce their widely utilization in textile wastewater treatment.
In recent years, textile wastewater is usually treated by the combination of activated sludge
process and coagulation-flocculation process. The activated sludge process removes all or a part
of organic compounds in the development and growing of biological microorganisms, and
reduces treatment loading for the next process. The arrangement in which the activated sludge
process is in front of the coagulation-flocculation process reduces the chemical cost and sludge
treatment cost. This is also our chosen technology in the WWTP of Xuan Huong Textile Co. All
investigation and operation steps in Xuan Huong Textile Co. in pilot scale as well as the reality
scale will be described and summarized in this paper.
2. MATERIAL AND METHODS
2.1. Material
Activated sludge used in textile WWTP was taken from stable aerotanks in other WWTPs which
have the similar characteristics.
Aluminium
sulfate
[Al2(SO4)3].nH2O,
PAC-Poly
Aluminium Chloride, NaOH baz, H2SO4 acid and Profloc
PC 1748 Polymer used in laboratory and in facility were
provided by Hoang Giang Ltd., Co. (HCMC, Vietnam).

Figure 1: Formula of aluminium sulfate

Wastewater described in this paper is textile wastewater from Xuan Huong Textile Co. (Tan Tao
Industrial Park, Binh Tan District, HCMC, Vietnam).
2.2. Methods
2.2.1. Textile WWTP in pilot scale
We built the pilot scale textile WWTP for investigation the reality WWTP performance. Here is
the technology of the pilot scale textile WWTP:
Textile
wastewater

pH
Adjustment

Activated
sludge treatment

Physicochemical
treatment

Receiving
water

Figure 2: Textile wastewater treatment pilot

Because the pH of the influent changes in a wide range from 9-12, the textile wastewater need to
be neutralized to the appropriate value before flowing to biological activated sludge treatment.
According to our former studies about textile WWTP technologies, the technology with the
activated sludge process in front of the physico-chemical process was proved the most efficient
2

B6-319 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 15, District 11, HCMC

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technology. The advantages of this arrangement are the reduction of the chemical cost and the
sludge treatment cost.
Wastewater from Xuan Huong Textile Co. was analyzed pH, COD, BOD, and SS before going to
the pilot scale WWTP. Because the high initial temperature of textile wastewater (40C) was
not appropriate for the development of biological microorganisms, the influent must be retained
to reduce the temperature. Then wastewater was flowed to the pilot aerotank in 8 hours for
biological activated sludge treatment. After biological treatment, wastewater was treated by
coagulation-flocculation process by PAC and polymer. The influent wastewater, wastewater after
biological treatment and the effluent wastewater of the pilot scale WWTP were sampled and
analyzed in Environmental Engineering Laboratory Institute of Environment and Resources,
Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh city.
The analyzed results from the pilot scale WWTP is described hereinafter:
Table 1: Analyzed sample results from the pilot WWTP
Source: Green Tech Co., May 08, 2008

pH

COD,
mg/l

BOD5,
mg/l

Tng cht rn
ha tan, mg/l

8-12

850-1600

500-900

250

Wastewater after
biological treatment

7.5-8.0

250-300

140-160

200

Wastewater after
coagulation-flocculation

6.5-7.0

80-150

45-80

50

5-9

400

100

200

Influent

Standard TCVN
5945:2005, C level

According to the results from the pilot scale WWTP, the wastewater effluent always met the
standard TCVN 5945:2005. Therefore, the pilot scale WWTP could be applied in the reality.
2.2.2. Treatment process
The wastewater effluent of Xuan Huong Textile Co. was collected in Pump sum, then through
Water aeration tower to reduce the wastewater temperature in appropriate range from 30-35C
before going to Aerotank. Physico-chemical treatment was conducted in CoagulationFlocculation tank to remove pollutants in the influent. Sludge in coagulation-flocculation tank
was splitted by the Dissolved air flotation unit. The effluent meets the Vietnamese standard
TCVN 5945:2005 before going to the receiving water.

B6-319 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 15, District 11, HCMC

Tel: 08.38665645
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Blower
Textile
wastewater
Pressurized
tank
Dissolved
Air Flotation

Aeration
tower

Pump sum

Aerotank

Al salt, Polymer,
Acid
CoagulationFlocculation tank

Transfer
tank

Settling tank

Sludge
drying bed

Receiving
water
Figure 3: Diagram of the textile WWTP

2.2.3. Investigated parameters and sample collection methods

To find the treatment performance of each system, these factors were investigated: COD, BOD 5,
TSS, and pH. Here is the way to collect samples: 500 ml glass bottles were used to collect
effluent sample from each stage of treatment. Duplicate samples were collected and stored in a
refrigerator. After collection, all the samples were processed in Environmental Engineering
Laboratory Institute of Environment and Resources, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi
Minh city.
1. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The analyzed results of wastewater from the WWTP of Xuan Huong Textile Co. were described
in Table 1.
Table 1: The characteristics of the influent and the effluent of the WWTP of Xuan Huong Textile Co.
Source: Green Tech Co., November 04, 2008

pH

COD,
mg/l

BOD5,
mg/l

Total suspended
solids, mg/l

Inffluent

9-12

800-1600

450-890

250

Wastewater after biological treatment

8.26

199

65

Wastewater after coagulationflocculation

7.47

114

52

20

Standard TCVN 5945:2005, C level

5-9

400

100

200

B6-319 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 15, District 11, HCMC

Tel: 08.38665645
Fax: 08.38665644
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1.1. COD removal performance

Figure 4 shows the COD removal performance of the pilot scale WWTP and the WWTP in
reality. The results express that COD was removed 79% (in the pilot scale) and 83% (in the
reality) after the aerotank. COD removal performance results prove that the chosen technology
with activated sludge treatment and the coagulation-flocculation treatment is an effectively
process.

Figure 4: COD removal performance of the WWTP in pilot scale and in the reality
% CODtreated=(CODinffluent CODeffluent)/CODinffluent

1.2. Suspended solids removal performance

Figure 5: TSS removal performance in the WWTP in pilot scale and in the reality

B6-319 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 15, District 11, HCMC

Tel: 08.38665645
Fax: 08.38665644
Web: www.congnghexanh.com.vn

Figure 5 shows the TSS removal performance of the WWTP in the pilot scale and in the reality is
very high and meets the effluent standard. In the WWTP, the TSS is removed 98.8% after
aeration tank. After physico-chemical treatment, the TSS concentration increases due to the
production of sludge in coagulation-flloculation tank; however, this phenomenon doesnt affect
the final result of our technology. The effluent still meets the standard TCVN 5945:2005, C level.
2. CONCLUSIONS
-

The WWTP in pilot scale and in the reality of Xuan Huong Textile Co. with the activated
sludge treatment and coagulation-flocculation process show an effective efficiency in
textile wastewater treatment. The COD removal performance is over 90%; the TSS
removal performance is over 80%.

All factors in the effluent of the WWTP meet the TCVN 5945:2005, C level.

REFERENCES
[1] Bes-Pi, A. et al. Reuse of wastewater of the textile industry after its treatment with a
combination of physic-chemical treatment and membrane technologies. Desalination 149, 2002:
169-174.
[2] Cheng, W.P. et al. A study of coagulation mechanisms of polyferric sulfate reacting with humic
acid using a fluorescence-quenching method. Water Research 36, 2002: 4583-4591.
[3] Rosli. Development of biological treatment system for reduction of COD from textile wastewater.
Master Dessertation, University Technology Malaysia, 2006.
[4] Sarasa, J. et al. Treatment of a wastewater resulting from dyes manufacturing with ozone and
chemical coagulation. Water Research 32, 1998: 2721-2727.
[5] Sen, S. and Demirer, G.N. Anaerobic treatment of real textile wastewater with a fluidized bed
reactor. Water Research 37, 2003: 1868-1878.
[6] Wallace, T.H. Biological treatment of a synthetic dye water and an industrial textile wastewater
containing azo dye compounds. Master thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
2001.
[7] Yuan, Y. et al. Treatment of wastewater from dye manufacturing industry by coagulation. Journal
of Zhejiang University Science A, 2006: 340-344.