Title
Pulp and paper mill effluent post-treatment using microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes
Authors
LUDMILA CARVALHO NEVES JEANETTE BEBER DE SOUZA CARLOS MAGNO DE SOUSA VIDAL KELLY GERONAZZO MARTINS and BRUNA LUIZA MANAGO

Received March 8, 2016
Published Volume 51 Issue 5-6 May-June
Keywords industrial wastewater treatment, fouling, membrane separation process, wastewater of pulp and paper mill, pollution, membrane cleaning, membrane fouling

Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the application of microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes as alternatives for post-treatment of wastewater from a pulp and paper mill. Filtration tests were conducted using laboratory bench equipment. For optimizing the treatment methods, the optimal operating conditions of flow rate, pressure and backwash interval were determined for each membrane, as the first step. The performance of the microfiltration (MF)and ultrafiltration (UF) membranes was evaluated with regard to removal efficiency for true color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, ABS254, lignin/tannin, total solids and also in relation to permeate flux. The membranes were then subjected to chemical cleaning using a hypochlorite solution. The results indicated that these membranes improved wastewater quality and the chemical cleaning of the membranes was effective.