**2. Water consumption in textile industry**

Amount of water consumed depends to a large extent (refer Table A3), on machine design and complexity of process (refer Table B, C3). Different machines have their own

Pre-treatment of Textiles Prior to Dyeing 223

**Process Requirements in litres/ kg of product** 

Sizing 0.5-8.2

De-sizing 2.5-21

Scouring 20-45

Bleaching 2.5-25

Mercerizing 17-32

Dyeing 10-300

Printing 8-16

industry to maintain current production and grow in the future.

More stringent environmental obligations for water and air,

Impact of the processes on the world climate,

**3.2 Present measures by the textile industry**  Reduction of heat energy consumption Reduction of fresh water consumption

**3.3 New processes-breakthrough techniques** 

Replacement of chemicals by less harmful chemicals

environmentally friendly and gentle processes

More stringent regulations and limits

**3. Future implications4** 

**3.1 Global trends** 

increasing costs,

Reduction of chemicals

Table C. Water requirements for Cotton Textile Wet Finishing Operations

The Textile Industry is aware of the decrease in water sources and is developing new technology and new chemical alternatives, but the challenge will lay in converting the technology in current textile facilities into the new technology that uses less water. Another challenge will lie in changing the mindset of the current generations in the textile industry to use new chemical alternatives instead of the chemicals they have used in the past decades. This will be a slow process, but one that will need to happen in order for the textile

The textile companies are forced to reduce their consumption of water and energy. Due to The rising global consumption of resources like water and energy and the drastically

More advanced measurement and control techniques- Need for novel economical,

Designing machines that use solvents /media other than water for processing

characteristic features that set lower limits to the amount of water required e.g. machines such as winch or hank dyeing machine work at material to liquor ratio of at least 1:10-15 while jigger works at 1:3.

Many detailed surveys reveal remarkably wide variations in quantities of water used, i.e. from 5 - 5000 lit/kg of fabric processed. Average consumption in the scouring and bleaching of cotton fabrics was found to be in the range of 10 - 80 lit/kg and 10-130 lit/kg respectively depending on the machine and process employed. In case of dyeing carried out in jigger, the consumption of water is 10 - 60 lit/kg, while that carried out in a winch, it is around 100 - 450 lit/kg.

In another survey carried out at wool processing mills the average consumption of water for various unit processes showed marked variation and the average consumption appeared to be higher than necessary for efficient scouring, milling and dyeing. In case of consumption of water by various types of washing machine, some information has been published. The cost determining factors in this case are water hardness, level control, spray devices, water pressure and washing temperature.


Table A. Water usage in Textile Mills (%)


Table B. Total Water Consumed during Wet Processing

characteristic features that set lower limits to the amount of water required e.g. machines such as winch or hank dyeing machine work at material to liquor ratio of at least 1:10-15

Many detailed surveys reveal remarkably wide variations in quantities of water used, i.e. from 5 - 5000 lit/kg of fabric processed. Average consumption in the scouring and bleaching of cotton fabrics was found to be in the range of 10 - 80 lit/kg and 10-130 lit/kg respectively depending on the machine and process employed. In case of dyeing carried out in jigger, the consumption of water is 10 - 60 lit/kg, while that carried out in a winch, it is around 100 -

In another survey carried out at wool processing mills the average consumption of water for various unit processes showed marked variation and the average consumption appeared to be higher than necessary for efficient scouring, milling and dyeing. In case of consumption of water by various types of washing machine, some information has been published. The cost determining factors in this case are water hardness, level control, spray devices, water

Steam generation 5.3 8.2

Cooling water 6.4 -

Process water 72.3 28.3

Sanitary use 7.6 4.9

and fire fighting 0.6 28.0

**Process Percent water consumed** 

Bleaching 38%

Dyeing 16%

Printing 8%

Boiler 14%

Other uses 24%

Table B. Total Water Consumed during Wet Processing

water for specific purpose 7.8 30.2

**Percent water Use** 

**Cotton textile Synthetic textile** 

while jigger works at 1:3.

pressure and washing temperature.

**Purpose** 

Demineralized or RO

Miscellaneous

Table A. Water usage in Textile Mills (%)

450 lit/kg.


Table C. Water requirements for Cotton Textile Wet Finishing Operations
