Long-Term Biodegradability of Textile Chemicals

The biodegradation of textile chemicals by conventional biological treatment systems is of vital concern to the textile industry today. Because most waste treatment plants depend on biological respiration for the generation of sludge and the ultimate removal of organic contaminants from the waste stream, it is imperative that a quantitative measure of the biodegradability of textile chemicals be known. This paper presents biochemical oxygen demand data for a number of textile chemicals including hydrocarbon solvents, dyes, finishes, and polyvinyl alcohol. In all cases, the biochemical oxygen demand data are related to the chemical oxygen demand values of the chemicals. Color measurements are used to substantiate further the results for the dye samples. The results are discussed in relation to structural characteristics of the chemicals.