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ASSESSMENT OF EFFICIENCY OF AERATION

TANK OPERATION IN THE EFFLUENT
TREATMENT PLANT OF A PAPER AND ....

Conference Paper · September 2014

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3997.5527

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Application of Modern Techniques for the Management of Contemporary Environmental Hazardous and
Disasters. pp 260-266, UGC sponsored Nation Seminar Proceedings, 2014 ;
ISBN:978-81-929776-0-7

ASSESSMENT OF EFFICIENCY OF AERATION TANK

OPERATION IN THE EFFLUENT TREATMENT PLANT OF A
PAPER AND PULP INDUSTRY, TRIBENI, WEST BENGAL.
Roy.P1, Mukherjee.S1; Paul.A.K1; Talukder.S1

1. Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani.

Correspondence email: priyabrataroy2009@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:
The study evaluated a combination of physico-chemical process for waste water treatment in a
paper and pulp industry, which is ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 certified, situated in Tribeni,
West Bengal. The main purpose of the project is to study the treatment efficiency of aeration
tank of the paper mill waste water. Among many waste water treatment methods aeration
treatment is considered to be one of the best. Various tests were performed in various sites with
particular time interval. The target was on the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD),
biological oxygen demand (BOD), mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS), maintain dissolve
oxygen level (DO), & pH to meet water quality in the final discharge water. The result showed
that, the aeration treatment is more than 80% efficient to increase the desired DO level. The
treatment process removes BOD & COD as per desired limit. The result indicates that, the
efficiency of the effluent treatment plant of the paper mill is very good to treat the waste water &
keep the desired level of parameters in the final discharge water.

Key words: Effluent treatment plant, MLSS, SVI, MLVSS, Aeration tank.

Introduction:
The pulp and paper industry has experienced significant growth over the last decade. As of 2008,
North America remains the largest consumer of pulp and paper, while global demand for pulp
and paper products has continued to increase in continents such as Asia and Africa. Increased
growth for the pulp and paper industry comes at a price. Ever-increasing production Volumes
have resulted in a gradual increase in waste production, air pollution, and energy consumption.
Amongst the major manufacturing industries, pulp and paper remains one of the largest
consumers of freshwater and energy as part of its standard manufacturing processes. Pulp and
paper mills are one of the main water and energy intensive industries as it is sixth largest water
polluting sector [1]. Typically in India around 75% of total fresh water supplied to pulp and
paper industries emerges as waste water. In comparison to other industries fresh water
requirement in pulp and paper industry is quiet high (150-200 m3) per ton of product [2]. The
problems associated with pulp and paper mill effluents are pH, colour, and high levels of
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Suspended Solids
(SS) etc. Pollutants released from pulp and paper mills into the environment pose numerous
problems and physiological impairment. Furthermore some compounds in the effluents are
resistant to biodegradation and can bio-accumulate in the aquatic food chain. Due to the high
chemical diversity of the organic pollutants in paper and pulp mill waste water, a wide variety of

©University of Kalyani, Department of Environmental Science, 2014 Page 1

toxic effects on aquatic communities in recipient watercourses have been observed [1,3-5].
Microorganisms involved in the removal of carbonaceous contaminants from wastewater require
nitrogen and phosphorous for growth and reproduction. Microorganisms require nitrogen to form
proteins, cell wall components, and nucleic acids (Maier, 1999a). Biomass has been universally
accepted to have the chemical formula C5H7NO2P0.074 [6]. Pulp and paper industry uses
conventional activated sludge treatment process in which they are using nonspecific
microorganisms and they kept food/microbe (F/M) ratio low in the aeration tank. Wastewater is
treated and recycled in pulp and paper mills to conserve energy and raw materials. Excess
effluent is treated by wastewater treatment plant which often consists of reception tank, clarifier
(primary), biological (secondary) treatment and secondary clarifier to remove most of the
suspended solids and soluble organic materials. Several physical and chemical processes
including combination of ultra filtration and reverse osmosis techniques, ion-exchange,
chromatography, lime precipitation and modified bleaching sequences, activated carbon and
allophonic compounds have been used for paper’s effluent treatment [7]. Biological treatment is
also widely used for the treatment of industrial effluents [8] and for the degradation of lignin to
reduce the load of pulping wastewater [9].

Study Area:
The specialty paperboards and paper Mill is located at Tribeni at 22°59′N 88°24′E / 22.99°N
88.40°E.. The Saraswati River flowed south-west beyond Saptagram, the Yamuna (this is
distinct from the river of same name in northern India and several streams of the same name in
eastern Bengal) flowed south-east, and the Bhagirathi proper flowing through the present
Hooghly channel to Kolkata and then through Adi Ganga, past Kalighat, to the sea. PSPD:
TRBENI UNIT is set up near the bank of river Hooghly under the jurisdiction of Chandrahati
G.P.2.

Methodology:
The most common types of measurements are Gravimetric (weighing), electrochemical (using
meters with electrodes) and optical (including visual). Water quality parameter like pH, DO,
MLSS, MLVSS, SVI, BOD, COD were estimated following the standard methods [10-12]. Grab
sampling was carried out at a fixed time interval (9:30AM, 2:00PM) from 19th March to 31st
March from aeration tank (inlet & outlet) of water samples and final outlet (for heavy metal and
Phosphate analysis).
The unit wise visit, questionnaire and discussion were performed with various departmental
managers and Heads.

Results and Discussion:

We have monitored the water quality of aeration tank (Inlet&Outlet) of ETP. The results
obtained are represented graphically.
Comparative study of the pH of aeration tank (inlet and outlet) shows that the results lie between
7.3 to 8.4 which are under WBPCB limit (Fig: 1). The lines of red, green and blue colour
indicate the pH of inlet, outlet and WBPCB standard respectively. The inlet sludge volume
index (red colour line) of aeration tank shows that the sludge volume is more or less high in
some dates due to machine wash and grade change, but it is studied that SVI in outlet (blue
colour line) follows the mill standard (green colour line), which is good sign of treatment

©University of Kalyani, Department of Environmental Science, 2014 Page 2

efficiency (Fig: 2). Comparative study of MLSS in aeration tank shows that in case of inlet (blue
colour line) the concentration is high in some date. It depends on SVI, but outlet MLSS (green
line) concentration is under mill standard (violet line) in most of the cases (Fig: 3). The volatile
matter of suspended solid in aeration tank that is MLVSS in case of inlet and outlet (blue and red
line respectively) are under WBPCB standard (green line). It is an indication of better efficiency
of aeration process (Fig: 4). The DO of aeration tank in inlet (green line) is too low; where as in
out let (violet line) is much higher and it is near mill standard (blue line) (Fig: 5). It indicates that
the aeration process is running very efficiently to increase the oxygen level in treated water. Thus
the estimated efficiency of aeration tank (blue bar) is more than 75% (Fig: 6).

8.6
8.4
8.2
8
7.8
pH

7.6
7.4
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
2:00PM
2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM
9:30AM
9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM
19/3 20/3 21/3 22/3 24/3 25/3 26/4 27/3 28/3 29/3 30/3 31/3
Time

Fig: 1 Comparative study of pH in Aeration tank (Inlet&Outlet) of the Specialty Paper Mill’s
ETP.
SVI:

400
350
300
250
SVI

200
150
100
50
0
9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM
2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

19/3 20/3 21/3 22/3 24/3 Time

25/3 26/3 27/3 28/3 29/3 30- 31-
Mar Mar
Fig2: Comparative study of SVI in Aeration tank (Inlet& Outlet) of the Specialty Paper Mill’s
ETP.
MLSS:

©University of Kalyani, Department of Environmental Science, 2014 Page 3

 6000
5000

Concentration of MLSS
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM
2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM
19/3 20/3 21/3 22/3 24/3 25/3 26/3 27/3 28/3 29/3
Time

Fig3: Comparative study of MLSS (mg/lt) in Aeration tank (Inlet&Outlet) of the Specialty Paper
Mill’s ETP.
MLVSS:

80
70
60
MLVSS

50
40
30
20
10
0
2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM
9:30AM
9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM
19/3 20/3 21/3 22/3 24/3 25/3 26/4 27/3 28/3 29/3 30/3 31/3
Time

Fig: 4 Comparative studies of MLVSS in Aeration tank (Inlet&Outlet) of the Specialty Paper
Mill’s ETP.

©University of Kalyani, Department of Environmental Science, 2014 Page 4

 5
4.5

Concentration of DO
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

2:00PM
2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM
9:30AM
9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM
19/3 20/3 21/3 22/3 24/3 25/3 26/3 27/3 28/3 29/3 30/3 31/3
Time

Fig: 5 Comparative study of Dissolve Oxygen (inlet and outlet) of aeration tank (mg/lt).
100
90
80
70
60
% of fficiency

50
40
30
20
10
0
2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM

2:00PM
9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM

9:30AM
19/3 20/3 21/3 22/3 24/3 25/3 26/3 27/3 28/3 29/3 30/3
Time

Fig: 6 Efficiency in respect to DO in Aeration tank of the Specialty Paper Mill’s ETP.

BOD and COD of final effluent:

The experimental results show that the treated effluent’s BOD (red bar) is under mill standard
(violet bar) and WBPCB standard (green bar) (Fig:7). The COD of the treated waste water (blue
bar) is under mill standard (green bar) and WBPCB standard (red bar) (Fig: 8). So, the effluent
treatment plant is efficient to control biological oxygen demand as well as chemical oxygen
demand.

©University of Kalyani, Department of Environmental Science, 2014 Page 5

 35

Concentration of BOD
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
19/3 21/3 23/3 25/3 27/3 29/3 31/3
Time

Fig: 7 Status of BOD (mg/lt) in the treated effluent of ETP of the paper mill.

400
350
Concentration of COD

300
250
200
150
100
50
0
19/3 21/3 23/3 25/3 27/3 29/3 31/3
Time

Fig: 8 Status of COD (mg/lt) in the treated effluent of ETP of the paper mill.

Conclusion:
Different tests were performed in various sites with particular time inter time interval. Various
laboratorial tests like pH, Dissolve Oxygen (DO), Mixed Liquor Suspended Solid (MLSS),
Mixed Liquor Volatile Suspended Solid (MLVSS), Sludge Volume Index (SVI), and BOD &
COD was performed for determine the efficiency. After the experiment, we have got the result
that, the aeration process of the paper mill is more than 80% efficient to increase the DO level &
efficient to keep the desired COD & BOD level of the effluent waste water after treatment. So,
the Aeration process in the specialty paper board and paper mill seem to be one of the best
solution for treatment of effluents containing pulp & cellulosic mater.
The process efficiency of aeration operation is very good. The liquid discharge not only meets
WBPCB specified limits but also well within the stringent internal norms. A healthy aquatic
flora and fauna in the pond indicates very low level of pollutants in the discharged water. There
is a good control to accommodate variation of influent water characteristics, particularly in the

©University of Kalyani, Department of Environmental Science, 2014 Page 6

 time of system boil out and system wash etc., which is well controlled as per the manual check
list. The ETP operation is designed for taking extra load, which is now running (without pulp
mill and chalk plant).

References:

1. Ali M, Sreekrishnan T (2001) Aquatic toxicity from pulpand paper mill effluents: a
review. J Adv Environ Res 5: 175–196.
2. Yadav BR, Garg A (2011) Treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent using pysico-
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3. Sundman G, Kirk TK, Chang HM (1981) fungal decolarization of kraft bleacheffluent:
fate of the cheromophoric material. TAPPI 64: 145-148.
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degradation and transformation. J Tappi 70: 123.
5. Savant DV, Abdul-Rahman R, Ranade DR (2006) ‘anaerobic degradation of adsorbable
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Ruaf Ahmad Khan, Aamir Shafique
8. Jeffrey O. Hollinger ‘An Introduction to Biomaterials’, Second Edition
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Science of the Total Environment 333 (2004) 37–58
10. Gondal, M.A., Hussain, T. “Determination of poisions metals in waste water collected
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71(2007) 73-80
11. Standard methods for Examination of water & Waste water, 21st edition, (2005), Central
edition, APHA AWWA WEF.
12. Chemical 7 biological methods for Water pollution Studies, Trivedy, R.K., Goel, P.K.
Environmental Publication Card.

©University of Kalyani, Department of Environmental Science, 2014 Page 7

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