1.

Economical Analysis of Treated Water and Sludge Utilization

After we compare operation cost between our wastewater treatment plant
with existing wastewater treatment plant for paper industry, there is another point
that we can compare. In the treatment process of wastewater, we can get treated
water and sludge as the product. The utilization of these products can be
considered for economical analysis of the wastewater treatment plant.
1.1.

Treated Water
In the process of paper production, the most important water consumers are :
Cleaning and lubrication shower (e.g for wires and press felts);
Sealing water for liquid ring vacuum pumps;
Sealing water for shaft sealing of pumps, agitators and other

aggregates;
Preparation and dilution of chemical additives or fillers or coating

paint;
Manual cleaning and flushing of equipment

Schematic illustration of global water flows in a paper mill is shown on

the figure below

Figure x. Simplified schematic illustration of global water flows in a paper mill (source :
AquaFit4Use, 2010)

The primary ciscuit is the largest circuit as far as the volumetric flow rate is
concerned. The cirulating volume of water amounts to approximately 100 to 200
L/kg. The specific volumetric flow rate is dependent on the flow, retention and
stock consistency at the headbox. The secondary circuit is formed from the

surplus from the primary circuit. A tertiary circuit is understood to be the at least
partial recirculation of treated discharge. Any surplus forms part of the effluent.
Utilization of treated water as the process water must be consider
prerequirement of water quality for the process.
Table x. Water quality for paper production

Parameter
pH
Temperature
Conductivit
y
COD
ClSO42Ca2+

Unit

Process Water
6,0-8,0
26-46

mg/l

500-2000

mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l

100-600
50-300
100-500
10,0-80,0

(source : AquaFit4Use, 2010)

Based on the table above, treated water of our plant was fulfill the
prereqiurement. The contain of Cl-, SO42-, and Ca2+ was minimize with
ultrafiltration unit. COD parameter of our treated water is about 85 mg/L (fulfill
the prerequirement). Total amount of our treated water is around 152 m 3/h. So,
with the scheme of our wastewater treatment plant, we can save 152 m 3/h water
for the paper production process.
1.2.

Dried Sludge
The management of wastes, in particular of industrial waste, in an

economically and environmentally acceptable manner is one of the most critical

issues facing modern industry, mainly due to the incresed difficulties in properly
locating disposal works and complying with even more stringent environmental
quality requirements imposed by legislation. The pulp and paper industry produce
over 304 million tons of paper per year. In 2005, soley in Europe, 99.3 million
tons of paper was produced which generated 11 million tons of waste and
represented 11% residue in relationship to the total paper production (Likon,
2010). Global production in the pulp and paper industry is expected to increase
77% by 2020 and over 66% of paper will be recycled at the same time.
Currently, PMS (paper mill sludge) are considered to be a waste material.
Increased recycling over the past two decades has consequently increased the

amount of material that requires disposal. The paper industry implements several
methods of the sludges that pulp and paper production generates.

Figure x. PMS disposal pathways (source : Likon, 2012)

1.2.1. Landfilling
Currently, most PMS is dried, spread or deposited onto the landfill. The
landfill can be industrial, in that areconstructed and operated by the mills, or they
can be independently owned, requiring the mills to pay a tipping fee for sludge
disposal. By inresing landfill fee up to 3.5 /ton anually until the final landfill us
fee will reach 40 /ton.
1.2.2. Landspreading
Land surface spreading is one of the possible methods for the application of
sludge to forest or agricultural lands for soil enhancement. Sludge as land
spreading material must be used very carefully due to an unfavorable C:N ratio,

high ion exchange capacity and possible Cr toxicity. The use of land spreading
material adjacent to residential areas is questionable due to odor.
1.2.3. Composting
Composting is one of the stabilization techniques used for prevention of
uncontrolled PMS decay. The use of compost is questionable due to the same
reasons mentioned in land spreasing. The C:N ratio in the sludge is up to 930:1
and it is not appropriate for plant growth.
1.2.4. PMS for Energy
In practice approx. 19 % of PMS is incinerated on the sites due to energy
recovery, but the economics of incineration is questionable because PMS contains
30 to 50 % water and only 30 to 50 % of cellulosic fibers calculated on dry solids.
For each additional 1 % of moisture content in PMS, the temperature of
combustion must be 10C higher due to process efficiency.
From the explained options above, we decide that our dried sludge will be
used for landfilling. As the material of landfilling, our dried sludge salable with
the price is around 40 /ton. The total amount of dried sludge production of our
plant is 128 ton/h, assume that whole of the dried sludge sold, so that we can get
122,880 /day ($131,657/day) as the revenue from the selling dried sludge.

References
AquaFit4Use. 2010. Water quality demands in paper, chemical, food and
tectile companies. Munchen
Likon, Marko. 2012. Recent anvances in paper mill sludge management.
Slovenia : University of Nova Gorica