Background and Objective: The paper industry is one of the most water-intensive sectors, generating a large volume of wastewater. Proper management of this waste—including its treatment, recycling, and reuse—can help prevent environmental pollution and conserve the country's water resources. In this study, a three-step process consisting of coagulation, ozonation, and membrane filtration was employed to treat papermaking wastewater.
Materials and Methods: A three-step process involving coagulation, ozonation, and membrane filtration was employed to treat the wastewater. In the first stage, polyaluminum chloride (PAC) was used to remove larger particles. This was followed by ozonation to degrade complex organic compounds. The final stage involved membrane filtration to further purify the water. At each stage, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater was measured and analyzed for comparative evaluation.
Results: Each stage played a critical role in the treatment process. Coagulation effectively removed a substantial amount of suspended particles, while ozonation addressed issues related to color and the breakdown of complex compounds. The final stage, membrane filtration, was instrumental in eliminating extremely fine suspended particles. Despite these efforts, the treated effluent exhibited a higher COD than the initial sample, possibly due to the release of intermediate compounds during treatment. However, the process successfully reduced the concentration of crude oil by 66%.
Conclusion: The membrane flux analysis revealed that at pH levels of 11 and 14, the effluent’s membrane flux closely approached that of pure water. This finding highlights the potential effectiveness of the proposed purification method for the treatment and recycling of papermaking wastewater.
