Efficiency analysis of effluents treatment plants of different industries at Kalurghat – Port City of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was executed at Kalurghat industrial area to determine the efficiency of effluent treatment plants by testing different physicochemical parameters. Results revealed that only 3 out of 9 industries treated their effluents efficiently and discharged following the standards of Department of Environment. The remaining industries viz. Alfa Textile treated their effluent but the values of pH (10.2), dissolve oxygen (DO) (3.6 mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (89 mg/L), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (282 mg/L), total suspended solid (TSS) (221 mg/L), and electric conductivity (EC) (4,003 μS/cm) exceeded the standards, and released untreated effluents directly into the environment. Smart Jeans didn't maintain the standard of EC (1,927 μS/cm), DO (3.2 mg/L), BOD (96 mg/L) and COD (216 mg/L). Asian Apparels EC (1,973 μS/cm), DO (4 mg/L), BOD (79 mg/L), and COD (221 mg/L) weren't up to the standards. Similarly, Mans Fashion EC (1,243 μS/cm), DO (3.7 mg/L), TSS (180 mg/L), BOD (78 mg/L), and COD (255 mg/L) also exceeded the standards. In addition, Well Group TSS (160 mg/L), EC (3,201 μS/cm), DO (4.2 mg/L), and COD (235 mg/L) while Golden Height only EC (1,762 μS/cm) crossed the prescribed limits. Inversely, all the sampled industries volleyed effluents containing metals within the standards level except Alfa Textile (Cu, Zn, & Cr), Well Group (Cr) and Asian Apparels (Ni).