Precipitation and Coagulation of Organic Substances in Bleachery Effluents of Pulp Mills

The formation of chlorinated organic substances in bleachery effluents of pulp mills is avoided by changing the bleaching processes to nonchlorinating agents. However, high concentrations of poorly biodegradable and colored lignins are remaining. Precipitation can be one option in physico-chemical treatment of these waters. The influence of alum, lime and magnesium hydroxide as precipitation agents for two different bleachery wastewaters was investigated under various conditions. Alum prove to be the most effective precipitant. Application at an Al/DOC-ratio of 0.5 (g/g) yields a reduction of about 60 % of the soluble organic matter in chlorine-bleachery effluents at the pH = 5.5. Oxygen-bleachery effluents require only half of this specific dosage. Lime precipitation also causes low residual concentrations, but the high chemical demand leads to problems in application. The precipitation with magnesium hydroxide cannot be applied, because remaining concentrations of organic materials are quite high. The changes in bleaching processes are responsible for a new kind of wastewater, which has a significantly lower demand of precipitant