Decoloration of Textile Dye Waste Solutions by Combined Irradiation and Chemical Oxidation

The effects of a combined radiation-oxidation process on solutions of textile dyes have been studied. It was found that the combined treatment with gamma radiation and chlorine causes more decolorization than the effect of the two components when they are applied individually. Several chemical classes of dyes were tested, including anthraquinone, azo, metallized-azo, sulfur, stil-bene, and triphenylmethane dyes. At a concentration of 0.25 g/liter the transmittance at the wavelength of maximum absorbance of dye solutions is greatly increased by treatment with a radiation dose of 60 krad with 75-ppm chlorine added. Preliminary cost estimates indicate $0.31/1000 gal for such treatment, with normal operating costs potentially lower.