Wastewater:

In the dyeing, printing and finishing processes, there are some operations exist that are not directly linked to the production process, but that becomes essential for the sequential development of production. Although attempts are usually made to perform processes in stages or grouping together the types of dyes and color of dye in order to minimize down times due to stoppages for cleaning and maintenance of the machinery, cleaning operations and the fine-tuning of the facilities cannot be totally eliminated. These operations are usually carried out using water, detergents and cleaning products. This cleaning, usually employing water and detergents, is performed on: The fixed machinery, that is to say, large machinery, in general. Normally transportable accessories, such as: moulds, trays, bobbins, roll stands, etc. The cleaning of accessories may be done in a more automatic procedure with automatic washing systems, brushes, scrapers, etc. Some cleaners incorporate industrial solvents and organo chlorine compounds into their active ingredients in order to boost their cleaning power on remains of dyes and printing pastes. Cleaning wastewater contains remains of dyes, pastes, fibers, lint, detergents and cleaning solvents. No reliable data are available on volumes and characterization of such wastewater. Water for supply purposes, used in dyeing, printing and finishing, whether it comes from supply companies, surface catchments or wells, has some conditioning factors regarding its quality and therefore, requires the appropriate treatment. Such treatment usually includes: Elimination of iron and manganese Elimination of suspended solids Elimination of hardness Elimination of salinity 23 These treatments generate the following wastewater: Wastewater from the washing of filters in order to eliminate suspended and precipitated solids.

 Water for the regeneration of the ionic exchange resin beds, or saline rejects from inverse osmosis (if available). In both cases with high conductivity. The cooling circuits must be purged periodically in order to eliminate concentrations of salt. These purged liquids are eliminated by being incorporated into the wastewater, which increases its conductility. The water circuits of the steam boilers must be purged and cleaned, including the steam drums. Apart from the concentrations of salts, basicity and silica from the purging itself, descalers are used for the cleaning of circuits. All of this maintenance operation generates wastewater, containing these products.