WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN THE

PAPER INDUSTRY
FITSUM WUDNEH
CHE 460 – FINAL PRESENTATION
11/??/2018
BACKGROUND

• Water is one of the world’s most valuable natural resources

• Essential element of production in the paper/pulp industry
• Water usage rate: 20000-60000 gallons/ton of product
• In the U.S, since 1950, water use has reduced between 50-90% for every ton
of paper produced
• Amount of water recycled in the paper industry, 11.8%, is still the lowest
amongst water-intensive industries.
WASTEWATER QUANTIFICATION

• Common water pollutant sources

• Bleaching
• Pulp mill (washing, digesting)
• Paper machine
• Recovery cycle
• Effluent Characteristics
• Biological oxygen demand – BOD
• Absorbable organic halides - AOX
• Chemical oxygen demand – COD
• Suspended solids – SS
• Total solids – TS
INTEGRATED WASTEWATER TREATMENT

• Liquor Cycle
RECENT ADVANCEMENTS OF WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
• Secondary on-site wastewater treatment facilities, usually operated by a third party
specialist, have become a norm at pulp and paper mills over the years
• Sedimentation
• Main form of secondary wastewater treatment
• Biological Treatments
• Aerated ponds
• Low efficiency high residence time (5-20 days) have led to diminished use of this technique
• Activated sludge
• Most common form of biological treatment – 60-75% of mills utilize
• Improved efficiency and lowered residence times (15-48 hours)
CONCLUSIONS

• With growing apprehension about the use of fresh water and its necessary
treatment, the EPA has implemented stricter environmental regulations to promote
efficient use of fresh water
• As the paper demand in the world continues to increase, water conservation and
treatment awareness has increased within the paper industry to allow the increased
production to occur in an environmentally safe manner.
• Biochemical Engineers are key in the need of developing various methods to improve
water usage