RUPALI SHRIVASTAVA
Abstract
Textile industries are major source of effluents due to their operations. Released colored organic compounds in effluent contaminate the water and are source of non-aesthetic pollution and eutrophication. In the present paper an innovative method is being reported for the decolouration of dyes in textile effluent using photoreduction in presence of solar radiation. Commercial samples of different azo and cremazole textile dyes commonly used in textile industries of Sanaganer region in Rajasthan were used for method development. Photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and manganese oxide was studied in presence of sunlight on commercial dye samples namely Violet, Congo Red, Blue S1 and Orange 3R. The results show that decoloration efficiency of TiO2 is many fold higher than ZnO and MnO. The process shows a significant enhancement when it is carried out at optimum concentration of reducing agent and appropriate time for solar irradiation. 89% Colour removal from effluent was reached at 96 Hrs operating time.