Ozonation-Photocatalysis-Microbial (OPM) Integrated Process for Textile Wastewater Treatment

Textile wastewater is a major environmental challenge due to its high levels of pollutants, such as dyes, heavy metals, and organic compounds, which pose significant risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. One of the key issues in treating this wastewater is optimizing operational parameters, such as ozone dosing and the intensity of light for photocatalysis, which vary depending on the composition of the wastewater. This study evaluates the efficiency of an integrated ozonation-photocatalysis-microbial (OPM) process for treating textile wastewater with high concentrations of dyes and organic pollutants. Wastewater samples were collected and analyzed for pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and dye concentration. An ozonation system was used to optimize dye degradation, adjusting ozone concentrations and contact times. The ozonated wastewater was then treated with a photocatalytic reactor using TiO2 or ZnO, and exposed to UV light to enhance degradation. The effluent was further treated in a bioreactor and inoculated with specific microorganisms to promote biodegradation. The treated effluent was assessed for its potential reuse and safety through various analytical methods to ensure environmental compliance. The results showed that increasing the reaction time to 60 min significantly improved performance, with a 1.0 g/L ozone concentration reducing the residual dye concentration to 10 mg/L and achieving 90% degradation efficiency. This study utilized Python software for data analysis. Future work will focus on optimizing system parameters and exploring novel photocatalysts to improve pollutant degradation.