Performance and cost–benefit analyses of an integrated process for advanced treatment of highly saline textile wastewater at a semi-industrial scale

The effective treatment and reuse of textile wastewater (TWW) pose substantial economic and ecological challenges for the textile sector. This work aimed to assess the techno-economic feasibility of a semi-industrial-scale system that integrates coagulation/flocculation, sand filtration, and anion exchange resin processes for the treatment of highly saline real TWW. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work in which advanced treatment of TWW was conducted at a semi-industrial scale (10 m³/d) and comprehensively evaluated through a thorough cost–benefit analysis (CBA). The results demonstrate that the integrated treatment system achieved notable removal efficiencies, with average yields of 63% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 97% for color, and 96% for total suspended solids (TSS). Moreover, the system effectively eliminated nitrogen, phosphorus, and pathogens. The quality of the treated effluent complied with the permissible limits outlined in the ISO 16075 standard for Category C irrigation water. However, it is important to note that a pretreatment step is necessary to reduce the initial salinity concentration and further enhance water quality. To assess the commercial viability of the proposed system, a CBA was conducted for a plant capable of treating 200 m³/day of TWW. The analysis revealed that the total cost for wastewater reclamation is approximately 0.17 €/m³, which is lower than that of other commonly employed processes. These findings provide compelling evidence for the economic and technical feasibility of implementing the integrated TWW treatment system at a larger scale in the North African context.