Anaerobic wastewater treatment

MICROBIAL CULTURE / BIO CULTURE FOR PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRIES

Pulp and paper industries generate varieties of complex organic and inorganic pollutants depending upon the type of the pulping process. A state-of-the-art treatment process and efficiencies of various wastewater treatment methods are presented and critically reviewed in this paper. Process description, the source of wastewater, and its treatment are discussed in detail. The main emphasis is given to aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment, as both play a crucial role in pollution control.

In pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment, aerobic treatment includes activated sludge processes, aerated lagoons, and aerobic biological reactors. On the other hand, anaerobic reactor wastewater treatment technologies such as UASB, fluidized bed reactors, anaerobic lagoons, and anaerobic digesters are widely used for efficient organic pollutant degradation. These systems rely on anaerobic microbial culture to break down biodegradable materials in the absence of oxygen. The application of anaerobic bioculture enhances the efficiency of digester wastewater treatment, enabling better pollutant removal.

It is found that the combination of anaerobic and aerobic treatment processes is highly effective in removing soluble biodegradable organic pollutants. Additionally, color can be removed efficiently through fungal treatment, coagulation, chemical oxidation, and ozonation. Chlorinated phenolic compounds and adsorbable organic halides (AOX) can be significantly reduced by adsorption, ozonation, and membrane filtration techniques. The incorporation of anaerobic microbial culture in wastewater treatment optimizes bioremediation, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for industrial wastewater management.