Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

By-Product Synergy In The Textile Industry: Indigo Waste Recovery In The Denim Finishing Process, Dennis Wambuguh

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Textile dyeing effluents present a substantial environmental problem, primarily because such effluents contain high concentrations of waste dyes, dye-products, and variable salts. The stonewashing process for the degradation of blue indigo to create a `faded' look in blue denim results in high concentrations of indigo dye waste in the resulting effluent and because indigo is very difficult to decompose biologically, the effluent ends up in the environment, raising aesthetic concerns and damaging the integrity of the rceiving streams. Wastewater containing indigo is characterized by a moderate amount of chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, suspended solids, dissolved solids and a dark …