IIT Madras has developed and successfully deployed an innovative technology to treat wastewater from the textile industry, addressing environmental concerns while improving cost-efficiency. Spearheaded by Prof. Indumathi M. Nambi, the Electrochemical Ozone Oxidation Process (ECOOP) was piloted at the Kunnankalpalayam CETP in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, achieving 96% colour and 60% COD removal from dyebath effluent.
The technology drastically reduces the load on Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems by segregating and pre-treating high-TDS dye bath effluent. Compared to traditional Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems, this method lowers RO infrastructure costs by 75% and overall treatment costs by 25%. It also avoids chlorine usage, preventing harmful byproducts.
Combined with Capacitive Deionization (CDI) for salt removal, this eco-friendly process consumes less energy and leaves no sludge. With support from the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre, IIT Madras aims to optimise and expand this system to smaller dyeing units lacking RO infrastructure.
Aligned with UN SDGs, this initiative promises to transform wastewater management in India’s textile sector, a major contributor to the economy yet a significant polluter. The pilot has been operational since December 2023 and continues to evolve through ongoing R&D efforts.