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Toxic Effects of Liquors Generated During Kraft Pulp Production Process on Aerobic Biomass and Growth of Selenastrum capricornutum

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Listed:
  • Constanza Hidd

    (Engineering and Biotechnology Environmental Group, Environmental Science Faculty and EULA–Chile Center, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion 4030000, Chile
    Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID FONDAP Center, Concepcion 4030000, Chile)

  • Gabriela Morales

    (Engineering and Biotechnology Environmental Group, Environmental Science Faculty and EULA–Chile Center, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion 4030000, Chile
    Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID FONDAP Center, Concepcion 4030000, Chile)

  • Naomi Monsalves

    (Engineering and Biotechnology Environmental Group, Environmental Science Faculty and EULA–Chile Center, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion 4030000, Chile
    Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID FONDAP Center, Concepcion 4030000, Chile)

  • Gladys Vidal

    (Engineering and Biotechnology Environmental Group, Environmental Science Faculty and EULA–Chile Center, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepcion 4030000, Chile
    Water Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID FONDAP Center, Concepcion 4030000, Chile)

Abstract

The kraft pulp process generates liquors with different physicochemical characteristics at each treatment stage. These liquors can accidentally spill into the biological treatment, hindering it and harming ecosystems where the effluents are discharged. Due to the lack of studies on the effects these liquors can have on the aerobic biomass of activated sludges and ecosystems, this investigation aims to assess the toxicity of each liquor spill to the aerobic biomass of an activated sludge, using Selenastrum capricornutum as a bioindicator of water quality. This evaluation used a laboratory-scale activated sludge, which was fed with an effluent with pH 6.62–6.67 and chemical organic demand (COD) of 611–638.5 mg/L. The liquors used had the following parameters: pH = 13 and COD = 1911 mg/L (white); pH = 13 and COD = 141,350 mg/L (black); pH = 13 and 2755 mg/L (green); and pH = 7.5 and COD = 358 mg/L (condensate). White liquor produced the greatest toxicity (EC 20 of 17.8 mgCOD/L) and lowest oxygen uptake rate (8.42 mgO 2 /L·h with 287.7 mgCOD/L) in the aerobic biomass compared to the other liquors. White liquor presented the greatest inhibition of Selenastrum capricornutum , with 81.7% (48 h) and 98.0% (96 h). Meanwhile, black liquor presented an inhibition of 94.7% (48 h), but a 13% increase in microalga growth at 96 h of culture. The information from this study makes it possible to calculate how much liquor can be fed to an activated sludge system, keeping it optimized to eliminate liquor discharges generated within the kraft mill’s processing units.

Suggested Citation

  • Constanza Hidd & Gabriela Morales & Naomi Monsalves & Gladys Vidal, 2025. "Toxic Effects of Liquors Generated During Kraft Pulp Production Process on Aerobic Biomass and Growth of Selenastrum capricornutum," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4494-:d:1656279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gladys Vidal & Yenifer González & Benjamín Piña & Mayra Jarpa & Gloria Gómez, 2021. "Minimization of Environmental Impact of Kraft Pulp Mill Effluents: Current Practices and Future Perspectives towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Leyi Duan & Qi Chen & Shunshan Duan, 2019. "Transcriptional Analysis of Chlorella pyrenoidosa Exposed to Bisphenol A," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-12, April.
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