Integrated Physicochemical and Biological Treatment Processes and Resource Recovery as Futuristic Approach for the Management of Paper and Pulp Industry Effluent

Paper manufacturing industries are water-intensive and generate a significant volume of wastewater (~ 60 metric tons/ton of paper). The untreated effluent from pulp and paper industries can be potentially polluting as they are characterized by a high load of chemical oxygen demand, i.e., approximately 10,000 mg L-1, and emit a variety of polluting chemicals depending upon the pulping processes. Therefore, this book chapter gives a brief account of the state-of-the-art technologies for wastewater treatment from pulp and paper manufacturing industries. Specifically, the chapter emphasizes the integration of physicochemical and biological processes for the treatment of pulp and paper mill effluents. Combination of different biological treatment strategies like aerobic and anaerobic treatment processes with advanced oxidation processes such as photocatalysis and ozonation is elaborated. The way in which biological treatment processes can be integrated with other physicochemical processes such as adsorption, advanced oxidation processes, and membrane filtration techniques for effective treatment of chlorinated phenolic compounds and adsorbable organic halogens (AOXs) present in the paper and pulp industry effluent is presented. Fungal treatment for the removal of color is highlighted. Finally, the futuristic approach for the recovery of untapped wealth from pulp and paper manufacturing unit wastewater and sludge in the form of lignin and other valuables is discussed.