Technological options for the treatment of pulp and paper waste water

Abstract

Waste-water treatment is becoming even more important in the light of diminishing water resources, increasing industrial, domestic and agriculture water usage and consequently waste-water disposal and its costs along with stricter discharge regulations that have lowered permissible contaminant levels in waste streams. The treatment of waste-water for reuse and disposal is particularly important for water scarce states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and other states in India where water availability is highly critical. Pulp and Paper industry requires enormous water in different processes and consequently generate significant waste water effluents. Such a significant quantity of effluent needs to be treated adequately to avoid damage to receptor environment. Various methods have been tried to treat the waste water from pulp and paper industries on laboratory scale, pilot plant and on field. The authors of the present paper have elaborated physical and chemical treatment methods along with biological, irrigation and land treatment and advanced waste water treatment methods to treat the pulp and paper industry effluents.