IIT Madras Unveils Low Cost Textile Wastewater Tech

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) has developed and piloted a new electrochemical technology that significantly lowers the cost and environmental footprint of treating wastewater from the textile industry.

The technology, known as the Electrochemical Ozone Oxidation System (ECOOP), was deployed in 2023 at the Kunnakalpalayam Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu—a hub for textile production. The pilot, led by Prof Indumathi M Nambi of the Department of Civil Engineering, achieved 96% colour removal and 60% chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction in dyebath effluent. India’s textile industry, while contributing 5% to the GDP and 12% to export earnings, is a major polluter—responsible for 20% of global clean water contamination from dyeing and finishing. Existing Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems, mandated by regulation, are capital-intensive, energy-hungry and leave a heavy carbon footprint.

The ECOOP technology tackles these limitations by separating dyebath effluent before it enters reverse osmosis (RO) units. This pre-treatment step reduces the RO load by 75%, slashing infrastructure costs and lowering energy usage. The chlorine-free process also avoids the formation of carcinogenic byproducts. “By cutting RO infrastructure cost by 75% and overall treatment cost by 25%, ECOOP presents a scalable alternative to conventional methods,” said Prof Nambi. “It ensures cleaner water without relying on chlorine-based treatments, making it safer for ecosystems.” Following lab-scale validation using volumes from 500 ml to 50 litres, the system was scaled up to treat 400 litres per day. The ongoing trials aim to enhance the system’s adaptability for broader use, particularly among smaller dyeing units that lack RO capabilities.

As India pushes towards sustainable industrial growth, this innovation from IIT Madras presents a promising solution for one of the country’s most polluting sectors, combining economic viability with environmental responsibility.

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IIT Madras Unveils Low Cost Textile Wastewater Tech