Review on wastewater treatment for man-made cellulosic fibre industries: recent advancement and future prospects

Abstract

Man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) are gaining attention due to their sustainability compared to other fibres. The demand for MMCF has increased due to improved standard of living leading to their accelerated production. Substantial amount of water and chemicals are required for the production of MMCF generating a significant volume of wastewater. This review highlights the type of effluents generated in MMCF industries, their characterization, along with global discharge standards. Chemical oxygen demand, dissolved salts, and heavy metals are found as the major source of impurities. Current effluent treatment methods are critically reviewed to identify the challenges and scope for technological advancement focusing on impurities reduction, value recovery, and water recycling to meet the stringent disposal norms. Additionally, the criteria for the selection of a techno-economically feasible treatment solution are also discussed. Further, the areas for improvement in conventional zero liquid discharge system for MMCF industries have been highlighted. Graphical abstract