You are here:
PAPERMILL WASTEWATER TREATMENT BY MICROSTRAINING
Citation:
Bliss, F. PAPERMILL WASTEWATER TREATMENT BY MICROSTRAINING. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-76/252.
Description:
An original treatment system was designed, constructed, and operated for removal of suspended solids, turbidity, color, and BOD from the wastewaters of two paper mills which produce technical and other fine papers. The treatment process involves coagulation and flocculation followed by microstraining. Space and cost considerations were of paramount importance in selecting this process. Fiber recovery was investigated, but was found to be uneconomical because of the high percentage of fillers being employed and unacceptable levels of color and dirt. The sludge is being discharged to the municipal sewerage system. Plant operating efficiencies over the past year indicated substantial removal of the suspended solids and 5-day BOD. Effluent turbidities averaged less than 30 Jackson turbidity units (JTU). The estimated construction cost of the treatment facility is $689,000. First-year operating costs including wages, power, supplies, chemicals, microfabric, and maintenance totaled $36,175, which is approximately equivalent to $1.50 per ton of paper introduced. It is expected that the techniques used in this operation may have broad applicability to industries under similar space limitations and using similar manufacturing methods, and that cooperative ventures will make it possible for many small firms to survive when faced with meeting the new critiera for industrial wastewater discharges.