Decolourization of textile effluent using native microbial consortium enriched from textile industry effluent

A robust and efficient treatment process is required to address the problem of residual colour and avoid expensive post-treatment steps while dealing with textile effluents. In the present work, a novel microbial consortium enriched from textile effluent was used to optimize the process of decolourization under extreme conditions with minimum inputs. With PreTreatment Range (PTR) effluent as a carbon source and only 0.5 g/L yeast extract as external input, the process enabled 70-73% colour reduction (from 1910-1930 to 516-555 hazen) in dyeing unit wastewater. Unhindered performance at higher temperatures (30 degrees C-50 degrees C) and wide pH range (7-12) makes this process highly suitable for the treatment of warm and extremely alkaline textile effluents. No significant difference was observed in the decolourization efficiency for effluents from different batches (Colour: 1647-4307 hazen; pH-11.5-12.0) despite wide variation in nature and concentration of dyes employed. Long term (60 days) continuous mode performance monitoring at hydraulic retention time of 48 h in lab-scale bioreactor showed consistent colour (from 1734-1980 to 545-723 hazen) and chemical oxygen demand (1720-2170 to 669-844 mg/L) removal and consistently neutral pH of the treated water. Present study thus makes a significant contribution by uncovering the ability of native microbial consortium to reliably treat dye laden textile wastewater without any dilution or pre-treatment and with minimum external inputs. The results ensure easy applicability of this indigenously developed process at the industrial scale.

Automated summary

A novel microbial consortium enriched from textile effluent was used to optimize the decolourization process, achieving significant reduction in color in dyeing unit wastewater under extreme conditions with minimum inputs. The process showed unhindered performance at higher temperatures and wide pH range, making it highly suitable for treating warm and extremely alkaline textile effluents.