Preparation and particle size effect of clinoptilolite on the removal of color, suspended solids, and chemical oxygen demand from real textile wastewater

As textile wastewater is a major source of surface water pollutants when not sufficiently treated prior to discharge, strict disposal regulations were set and monitored by environmental authorities. As such, continuous research is necessary in textile wastewater remediation. In this study, real textile wastewater samples were directly collected from the wastewater discharge point of a manufacturer in Prai, Malaysia. Various particle sizes of clinoptilolite were applied to treat the wastewater in a series of batch experiments at a predetermined dosage, pH, and contact time. Removal of three main parameters [i.e. color, suspended solids (SS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD)] was monitored. The removal rates of color, SS, and COD were 47.9, 48, and 37.4%, respectively, at particle sizes larger than 2 mm and then increased to 91, 96, and 62%, respectively, at particle sizes of 75–250 μm. The highest COD removal of 70% was also achieved at particle sizes smaller than 75 μm. These findings indicate tha...