Application of Ozone in Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) for Enhanced Removal of TOC and Suspended Solids in Pulp and Paper Wastewaters

Abstract

Pulp and paper mills are one of the top consumers of water related to industrial manufacturing, which ultimately leads to a large volume of heavily contaminated wastewater. This discharged effluent can have a harmful effect on the receiving aquatic environment and cause further ramifications downstream. Thus, a technically feasible and cost effective treatment solution for safe release from the mill is essential. Dissolved air flotation (DAF) has many applications and involves the formation of air microbubbles triggered by a drop to atmospheric pressure. When introduced into the wastewater, these microbubbles attach to the floc particles present and float to the surface. Another water treatment technology is ozone, a powerful oxidant, and has been widely used in water and wastewater treatment over recent decades, including color reduction in pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment. This thesis studied the effect pre-ozonation has on the DAF process in treating pulp and paper mill secondary effluent. Wastewaters from three mills with different initial water quality parameters were used, especially chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, and color. The most suitable coagulant and coagulant aid, aluminum chlorohydrate and cationic polymer NS 4700P respectively, were selected, and an effective bench-scale experimental procedure was established. Pre-ozonation did not reduce the need for coagulant due to little change in the overall COD, color, or turbidity removal. However, ozonation did reduce color before coagulation, and the ultimate target removal of COD to 90 ppm was met with the conditions chosen.