Influence of Chemical Dose Splitting on Reduction of Carcinogenic Compounds during Paper Mills

The major effects with exposure to high levels of chlorophenols are on the liver and the immune system. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared that the chlorophenols, are carcinogenic to man. The current study aims to analyze the residual bleaching effluent received from all bleaching stages of Jute Cady pulp for its content of chlorophenolics. Gas chromatographic analysis yielded important information regarding the types and concentration of various chlorinated derivatives in the effluent with, the major derivatives being phenols, catechols, guaiacols, syringaldehydes. The results indicate that splitting of chlorine dose in Chlorine (C) stage drastically reduced the formation of chlorophenolics in the spent liquor nearly by 46%, in the absence of washing between C1 and C2 stage. The total chlorophenolics further decreased by 51% when, washing between C1 and C2 stage was introduced thereby exhibiting a 5% increase in chlorophenolic content in comparison to chlorination stage i.e. without washing between C1 and C2 stage. The study is significant in the light of economy and toxicity and hold great promise to be used for designing chlorination stages for pulp bleaching for a more environment friendly pulp bleach process. keywords: Jute Cady, Toxicity, Spent Bleach liquor, Gas Chromatography, Chlorophenolics.