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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

The use of advanced treatment methods for removal of color and dissolved solids from pulp and paper wastewater

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This study investigated the use of activated carbon and ion exchange for the removal of color and dissolved solids from pulp and paper wastewater generated by the Union Camp Corporation mill in Franklin, Virginia. The objective of the treatment was to provide a high quality effluent suitable for direct recycling. This advanced treatment followed pretreatment by lime, alum, or ferric chloride. Required effluent quality was defined as being 5 Pt-Co units color and 75 mg/L chloride. Granular and powdered carbons, manufactured by the Westvaco Corporation, were utilized in the study. The ion exchange resin investigated was Amberlite IRA-68, manufactured by Rohm and Haas. Carbon treatment consisted of batch and column operation; ion exchange column treatment was used. The results of the study indicated that the required effluent quality was achieved by activated carbon and ion exchange treatment of wastewater that had been chemically pretreated. The most successful treatment schemes for the biotreated effluent were pretreatment with 500 mg/L alum or 2500 mg/L lime, followed by carbon column treatment for color polishing and ion exchange for chloride removal. The lime pretreated sample produced an effluent containing less than 5 Pt-Co units color as necessary for reuse, while the alum pretreated sample would require dilution with make-up water or additional treatment (i.e. ion exchange) to obtain recycle quality. The use of ion exchange for chloride removal is not practical due to the preferential exchange for sulfates. Until such time as sulfate can be eliminated from the wastewater source, other methods of dissolved solids removal should be investigated.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M. Eng.
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Environmental Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Environmental Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Year dc:date.issued
1986

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sullivan, Elizabeth Carol

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en_US

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10919/94476
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/94476

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Sullivan, Elizabeth Carol. The use of advanced treatment methods for removal of color and dissolved solids from pulp and paper wastewater. masters thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/94476