Pilot Trials of a Trickling Filter for Treatment of Effluent From a Newsprint Mill, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

W.E. Lunan

Abitibi-Price Inc.

K. Krupa

NSW Corp.

C. Harden

NSW Corp.

Pilot trials were conducted at the Fort William newsprint mill of Abitibi-Price Inc. The pilot plant consisted of a 9m 3 Sessil filter ahead of two 24-hour aeration basins. A primary clarifier was tried at different locations. The results showed that the removal of soluble BOD5 was 40 to 60% over a range of loading rates from 6 down to 1kg/m3•d. The accumulation of solids in the biotower was readily controlled by adjusting the hydraulic loading. The final effluent had a soluble BOD5 of 20mg/L and was consistently non-toxic despite major upsets in the feed. The sludge from the tower and particularly from the aeration basins settled well. The results of the trials suggest that a secondary treatment system incorporating a Sessil trickling filter and aerated lagoons followed by a post-secondary clarifier should require less power, nutrients, and operator attention than a conventional activated sludge system.