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Sustainable Alternatives for Tertiary Treatment of Pulp and Paper Wastewater

Author

Listed:
  • Matia Mainardis

    (Department Polytechnic of Engineering and Architecture (DPIA), University of Udine, Via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Silvia Mulloni

    (Department Polytechnic of Engineering and Architecture (DPIA), University of Udine, Via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Arianna Catenacci

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy)

  • Maila Danielis

    (Department Polytechnic of Engineering and Architecture (DPIA), University of Udine, Via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Erika Furlani

    (Department Polytechnic of Engineering and Architecture (DPIA), University of Udine, Via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Stefano Maschio

    (Department Polytechnic of Engineering and Architecture (DPIA), University of Udine, Via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Daniele Goi

    (Department Polytechnic of Engineering and Architecture (DPIA), University of Udine, Via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

Abstract

In this work, different alternatives to conventional tertiary treatment of pulp and paper (P&P) wastewater (WW), i.e., physicochemical coagulation-flocculation, were investigated to enhance the environmental and economic sustainability of industrial wastewater treatment. In particular, following a preliminary characterization of secondary effluents, cloth filtration and adsorption were studied, the former by pilot-scale tests, while the latter at laboratory scale. An economic analysis was finally accomplished to verify the full-scale applicability of the most promising technologies. Cloth filtration showed excellent total suspended solids (TSS) removal efficiency (mean 81% removal) but a very limited influence on chemical oxygen demand (COD) (mean 10% removal) due to the prevalence of soluble COD on particulate COD. Adsorption, instead, led to a good COD removal efficiency (50% abatement at powdered activated carbon—PAC—dosage of 400 mg/L). The economic analysis proved that adsorption would be convenient only if a local low-cost (100 €/ton) adsorbent supply chain was established. Ultrafiltration was considered as well as a potential alternative: its huge capital cost (19 M€) could be recovered in a relatively short timeframe (pay-back time of 4.7 years) if the ultrafiltrated effluent could be sold to local industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Matia Mainardis & Silvia Mulloni & Arianna Catenacci & Maila Danielis & Erika Furlani & Stefano Maschio & Daniele Goi, 2022. "Sustainable Alternatives for Tertiary Treatment of Pulp and Paper Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:10:p:6047-:d:816846
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