Based on successful preliminary bench scale experimental studies for treatment of industrial wastewater contaminated by nitrocellulose, a pilot plant is constructed for results assessment. Bench scale experimental work proved 55%, 73% recovery of nitrocellulose without and with chemical addition respectively within 10 min flotation compared to 35%, 69% recovery within 2-0.5 h settling respectively. The treatment process aims the recovery of nitrocellulose through an efficient dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit. Different operating conditions have been studied for different effluent characteristics with and without flocculating agent. Nitrocellulose recovery reached 80% by flotation without chemical, which is increased to 87% using cationic polymer, but both exploring suitable pathways to solve the recovery problem. The experimental results are considered suitable basis for full scale design of the industrial treatment unit. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.