Peroxide Treatment in Chemical Pulp Bleaching

Effluents from pulp and paper mills are highly toxic and are a major source of water pollution. Nearly 250 chemicals have been identified in effluents which are produced at different stages of papermaking. Their toxic nature is derived from the presence of several naturally occurring and xenobiotic compounds which are formed and released during various stages of papermaking. If applied under appropriate condition, hydrogen peroxide is very effective bleaching chemical. This article reviews the origins and effects of major pollutants present in pulp and paper mill effluents and deals with the bleaching of Jute Cady pulp with chlorine and peroxide treatment and identification of various chlorophenolics compounds. The results show that there is a reduction of 52% in total chlorophenolic compound in the CEH effluent when E stage is changed to Ep. and the COD and color values are reduced by 30% and 33% respectively as E stage is changed to Ep stage in Jute Cady pulp.