Use of Aquanox Advanced Waste Water Screening Technology for Rapid Analysis in the Pulp and Paper Industry, 1998 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Aquanox, the rapid water quality screening system from Randox Laboratories, was evaluated against conventional laboratory methods, BOD5 and COD for the determination of contaminant levels in waste water samples from pulp and paper mills. Samples were collected over a six month period from a variety of mills at different locations and BOD5 and COD levels determined using standard methods. The samples were analysed using a portable, hand-held luminometer and test kit, and the results statistically converted to calculated BOD5 and COD values using the instrument software, Aquasoft. Results for the three methods were compared and correlation coefficients as high as 0.99 obtained. Correlation coefficients varied between sites, however, trend analysis at the majority of sites showed that the results for the rapid water quality screening test closely followed those obtained with conventional BOD5 and COD methods.

The rapid water quality screening system is capable of detecting changes in the composition of water samples from the pulp and paper industry, whether they have high or low BOD5 and COD levels. Results are obtained in four minutes, rather than 5 days and two hours for conventional BOD5 and COD methods respectively, enabling rapid detection of environmental changes. Results of the study show that the rapid water quality screening system could prove a valuable tool for the rapid detection and monitoring of effluent in the pulp and paper industry.