Application of Photo-Fenton Process for the Treatment of Kraft Pulp Mill Effluent

Abstract

The present work evaluated the use of photo-Fenton process for the treatment of kraft pulp mill effluent. The photo-Fenton best operating conditions, such as pH, concentration, and H2O2: Fe2+ ratio were evaluated. The efficiency of the treatment was measured by COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal. The results showed that the optimum pH for the photo-Fenton process was equal to 3. The increase in H2O2 application resulted in an efficiency increase of the photo-Fenton process, although this was not a directly proportional relation. For most cases, the H2O2: Fe2+ proportion of 100:1 yielded the best results for COD removal. Solar radiation was more efficient than artificial UV to the COD removal. During the treatment the organic matter of the effluent was more oxidized than mineralized, showing a higher removal of COD than BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and TOC (total organic carbon), respectively. So, photo-Fenton process increased the BOD/ COD ration but decreased the BOD/TOC ratio.