SASTRA University here has come out with a novel method for treating effluents let out by Tirupur dyeing units.

Meera Parthasarathy, Senior Assistant Professor, Center for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, and inventor of the novel method, explained it to the industrialists and technical persons of Veerapandi Common Effluent Treatment Plant at the university here on Tuesday. The method involves treating effluents with a special bacteria identified at SASTRA University named SASTRA bacteria for which patent had been filed and a powder in a two-step process instead of the seven-step process that was followed by dyeing units.

The untreated effluent undergoes bacterial treatment and powder treatment and becomes non-toxic.

Collecting untreated effluents from Tirupur, the SASTRA team conducted the experiments using bacteria and the powder prepared by them. Treated water was put to Zebra Fish Model (rearing fish in it) to find out whether it has been detoxified. Fish survived even after seven days and there is no toxicity in fish too, Meera Parthasarathy, said.

Following the court order, the dyeing units have been using a common effluent treatment plant.

K.K.Padmanabhan, Technical Director, Veerapandi Common Effluent Treatment Plant, said that as per the court order the units should follow zero liquid discharge and hence wastewater could not be let out.

When T.K.Rangarajan, CPI (M) MP, wanted to know about the usability of the treated water for drinking purposes, Mr.Padmanabhan replied in the negative.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Correspondent / Thanjavur – January 08th, 2014