Industrial effluent treatment: Theoretical and experimental analysis

Industries like textile and tannery are facing effluent disposal as well as water scarcity problems. To solve these two problems, an attempt has been made to convert the industrial effluent into potable water by using solar desalination methods. Effluent from textile industry is taken for analysis. In this work, single basin type solar still with fin at basin, stepped solar still with two different basin depths, and minisolar pond are the three types of solar devices used for effluent desalination. Sensible heat storage materials like pebble, black rubber, sponge, and sand are used in single basin and stepped solar stills to enhance the productivity. A minisolar pond is also connected with these stills to preheat the still water. For presettling the effluent, an effluent settling tank is fabricated. Maximum productivity occurs when the stepped solar still is modified with fin, pebble, and sponge and integrated with a minisolar pond. Theoretical analysis is made to validate the experimental results. Chemical analysis is also made for raw effluent, settled effluent, and desalinated water. For converting the desalinated water into potable water, some minerals are added. Cost analysis is also made. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3558862]