Textile wastewater treatment

Abstract Textiles are an important and fast-growing industrial sector which is also essential for any growing economy. The final disposal of the textile wastewater in solid form (sludge) or liquid form is still a challenge, as, even after treatment through conventional techniques, it does not decolorize and detoxify the dye effluents. Textile dyes make water toxic and unsafe for human and animal consumption. At the same time, they cause an imbalance within the aquatic ecosystem and can serve as mutagenic agents which are harmful to the environment. Various researchers have performed studies about reduction in dye concentration as well as remediation of salts present in the textile effluent through microalgae. Specific microalgae or bacteria or microbial consortium can be a potential source in bioremediation of dyes and reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) level present in the effluent. Bioremediation through the microbial route also has the potential to remediate heavy metals through its accumulation by physical adsorption, ion exchange and chemisorption, covalent bonding, surface precipitation, redox reactions, or crystallization on the cell surface.