Removal and Transformation of Resin Acids during Secondary Treatment at a New Zealand Bleached Kraft Pulp and Paper Mill

Abstract

Investigations were undertaken on a full scale lagoon treatment system receiving effluents from a bleached kraft pulp and paper mill which processed softwoods. The system was examined over four phases, including lagoons, aerobic transport channels and the recipient discharge point to determine the removal efficiency of resin acids during effluent treatment. The total treatment system removed 96% of the influent resin acids. The major compounds remaining after treatment were abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, and a variety of hydrogenated resin acid transformation products. Each section of the treatment system differed in its ability to remove the major classes of resin acids. For example, the average removal rates for resin acids within the first phase lagoons and of the channel leaving the lagoons were 1.2 and 17 g.kg-1 VSS.day-1, respectively. A pathway for the biodegradation and biotransformation of influent resin acids is proposed on the basis of the observed changes in effluent composition through the treatment system.

Genetic Investigation of the Catabolic Pathway for Degradation of Abietane Diterpenoids by Pseudomonas abietaniphila BKME-9

“…This is consistent with a common abietane-specific degradation pathway for all of these organisms. Interestingly, 7-oxodehydroabietic acid has been detected in effluent biotreatment systems (46), suggesting that the abietane pathway reported here is ubiquitous. In light of the results presented in this study, the presence of this compound in biotreatment systems might be used as an indicator of biomass inhibition or sludge health with respect to its ability to degrade resin acids.…”

Pulp Mill Sourced Organic Compounds and Sodium Levels in Water and Sediments from the Tarawera River, New Zealand

“…The levels of pulp mill sourced compounds identified in this investigation can be compared with those identified in sediments and water samples collected from the biological treatment systems and receiving waters of another New Zealand kraft mill. (Stuthridge et al 1991, Zender et al 1994, Tavendale et al 1995.…”

Juvenile Sea Bass Liver Biotransformation and Erythrocytic Genotoxic Responses to Pulp Mill Contaminants

“…High concentrations of retene (7-isopropyl-1-methylphenantrene), a substituted polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), have also been found in wastewater stabilization basin sludge of pulp and paper mills, as well as in sediments downstream of pulp and paper industry (Zender et al, 1994;Koistinen et al, 1998;LeppaK nen and Oikari, 1999a,b). Retene can be formed by thermal degradation of abietic-type resin acids (Ramdahl, 1983), and in sediments, by anaerobic microbial biotransformation of resin acids, namely the abietic (AA) and dehydroabietic acid (DHAA) (Wakeham et al, 1980;Tavendale et al, 1997a,b).…”