Textile dyeing and finishing produce wastewater with intense colour from dyes, high COD, surfactants and auxiliary chemicals, widely swinging pH, and often high salinity. Many dyes are recalcitrant and resist conventional aerobic biodegradation. MBBR removes the biodegradable COD and tolerates the pH and load swings, but colour removal generally needs complementary steps, so MBBR works within a multi-barrier train.
Colour, Salinity and Variability
The biodegradable fraction of the COD is removed by the MBBR, and its fixed biofilm rides out the pH swings and load variability of dyeing operations. Recalcitrant dyes and residual colour typically require additional treatment — coagulation, adsorption, ozonation or other advanced oxidation, and in some designs an anaerobic stage to break azo dye bonds ahead of aerobic polishing. High salinity can stress biology, so acclimation and, where needed, dilution or equalisation are used to keep the biofilm stable.
Equalisation and pH correction upstream give the MBBR a workable, more consistent feed.
Textile Wastewater Design Context (site-specific — confirm per project)
| Parameter | Typical Value | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour | recalcitrant dyes | — | Needs polishing / anaerobic step |
| COD | high | — | Biodegradable fraction via MBBR |
| pH | widely variable | — | Equalisation + correction |
| Salinity | often high | — | Acclimation / dilution |
A Multi-barrier Approach to Colour
Meeting a colour consent usually means combining biological COD removal with a colour-specific step. MBBR provides the robust biological core, while the colour and recalcitrant fractions are addressed by the complementary barriers selected for the specific dyes in use — confirmed by treatability testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can MBBR remove textile colour?
How does salinity affect treatment?
Why use MBBR for textile wastewater?
Related Pages
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