Management of Textile Industry Sludge for Environmental Sustainability

The textile sector produces sludge with a high calorific value that could be recovered as energy and precious products using properly configured models. In this chapter, the management of textile industry sludge for environmental sustainability is discussed considering sludge characterization, regulations, and creating a circular economy without putting health and nature at risk. The characterization study was based on dry solids, volatile solids, humidity, and complex persistent compounds (polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), micro-plastics (MPs), urine, recalcitrant dye molecules and toxic intermediates resulting from partial oxidation of pollutants). Furthermore, the presence of metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn) was also included in the characterization and modeling discussions. Since scientific studies indicate the presence of hazardous pollutants in the sludge matrix, priority should be given to the removal of these compounds. Several researches propose that these pollutants require high treatment temperatures to obtain harmless and useful products. Anaerobic codigestion (AcoD) and low-temperature thermal processes (LTTP) seem helpful to create a sustainable management model. Furthermore, a thermal drying step is essential to operate pyrolysis, gasification, and incineration plants flawlessly. Considering the recent emphasis on the mitigation of adverse climate change effects, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, carbon capture and storage pyrolysis, and gasification processes seem highly reliable. The obtained solid phases like ash and biochar could be used as adsorbents for wastewater remediation, oil separation, construction, and building materials. Moreover, syngas and pyrolysis oil could be used to produce electricity or as fuel for heating systems.