Study of the impacts of process changes of a pulp and paper mill on aerated stabilization basin (ASB) performance

Rosmala Lewis; Jonathan Cohen; John Awad; Hugh Burger; Josef Marzouk; Graham Burch; David M Lewis; John A van Leeuwen

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.178

Study of the impacts of process changes of a pulp and paper mill on aerated stabilization basin (ASB) performance

Chemosphere. 2018 Nov:211:767-774. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.178. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

Authors

Rosmala Lewis¹, Jonathan Cohen², John Awad³, Hugh Burger², Josef Marzouk², Graham Burch², David M Lewis⁴, John A van Leeuwen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, 5095 South Australia, Australia; School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
² Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, 5095 South Australia, Australia.
³ Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, 5095 South Australia, Australia; Public Works Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Egypt.
⁴ School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
⁵ Natural and Built Environments Research Centre, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, 5095 South Australia, Australia; Future Industries Institute, Mawson Lakes Campus, University of South Australia, South Australia 5095, Australia. Electronic address: John.vanleeuwen@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 30099161
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.178

Abstract

A laboratory scale (LS) and a field-based pilot plant (PP), designed to simulate aerobic stabilization basin (ASB) operation, were utilized to assess the potential impacts of changes in pulp and paper (P&P) mill operations on full-scale (FS) ASB performance. Two stages of investigation were conducted. The first was undertaken to determine the potential of pre-alum treatment of pulp mill wastewaters on ASB performance. The second investigation was conducted to assess ASB performance where wastewaters transitioned from being coagulated pulp and paper mill wastewaters to paper mill wastewaters only. Simulation ASB performance was assessed based on removals of BOD₅, colour, UV@254 nm and nutrients [total phosphorus (TP) and nitrogen compounds (TN)]. Pre-alum treatment of pulp mill wastewaters with subsequent ASB treatment following mixing with paper mill wastewaters showed high percentage removals of BOD₅. Despite low TP concentrations (≤0.05 mg/L) and low nutrient to BOD₅ ratios of wastewaters in the LS-ASB trial, the high % BOD₅ removal indicated recycling of nutrients from sludge [sourced from the FS-ASB]. Despite coagulation of pulp mill wastewater being performed using a very high alum dose (∼2000 mg/L) to remove colour and its precursors, colour formation remained high throughout the simulated ASB trials. Simulation of discontinuation of pulping indicated that colour would reduce rapidly to low levels in ASB wastewaters, but that TP and TN concentrations would persist for longer periods of time and decline slowly. Survey data of water qualities of the FS-ASB system obtained before, during and 2 years after discontinuation of pulping are presented.

Keywords: Aerated stabilization basin; Coagulation; Nutrients; Pilot plant; Pulp & paper mill; Wastewater quality.

MeSH terms

Industrial Waste / analysis*
Paper*
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
Wastewater / chemistry*

Substances

Industrial Waste
Waste Water