PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The textile industry is responsible for large water discharges that have an environmental impact. The sector consumes 93 000 million cubic metres of water annually (4% of the total water consumption of the world). Dyeing and textile finishing processes require the most water. Around 150 000 million garments are manufactured annually, producing 17 500 and 50 000 million cubic metres of wastewater. It is responsible for 19-56% of the total water consumption in the textile industry. Nearly one-third (30%) of the textile manufacturing industry is located in Europe. Technical solutions are available to reduce the high demand of for water.
The textile industry is also one of the most chemically intensive sectors, using more than 8 000 chemicals. The finishing processes use enzymes, softeners, resins and dyes, some of which are listed as emerging pollutants in the Directive (2008/105/EC). Most of them are disposed in the wastewater effluent, affecting chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, colour and conductivity. The wastewater also contains fibres and microfibres (plastic fibres smaller than 5 mm) that also have a negative environmental impact.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE ANHIDRA project aims to reduce water discharges from textile finishing industry by up to 98% by re-using process water, thus saving resources and protecting the environment. The project will demonstrate water re-use in industrial washing machines over 60 days of operation, saving up to 21 000 m3 during this period and 123 408 m3 annually. This closed-loop process will reduce water consumption by 92% and energy use by 15%.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- The technology patented internationally with a high potential for replication across the world;
- Drawing up of a business plan for the technology, with its expected implementation at 36 facilities within three years of the end of the project and at least 100 facilities within within five years, leading to water savings of up to 12.34 million m3/year;
- Installation of finishing textile facilities in locations with shortages of water or with high restrictions on dumping large volumes of wastewater, thanks to project technology; and
- Recovery of textile fibres commonly present in wastewater, with new valorisation processess defined.
