Integrated Water Management and CP Implementation for Wool and Textile Blend Processes

The textile industry worldwide involves a large number of washing, bleaching, dyeing, and conditioning processes. The industry is well-known for its extensive water consumption and discharges. Each process wastewater stream has a unique pollutant characteristics and flow rate. The segregation of weakly polluted streams, and their separate treatment and reuse for appropriate processes may result in a considerable reduction in water consumption and wastewater discharge. A wool and blends textile enterprise was investigated in an attempt to achieve optimum water management. The segregated streams were selected by assessment of the processes and comprehensive characterization of the wastes generated. Cleaner Production (CP) implementation options were developed and compared. The methodology was applied as a case study for an integrated wool, wool-PES blends and clothing industry study in Istanbul. Economical and applicable treatment alternatives complying with the criteria for reuse and discharge were designed and operated under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, a cost assessment of the CP options was made based on the stream segregation and reuse.