Treatment of Paper and Pulp Wastewater Using Coagulation-Flocculation with Alum: Optimization and Performance Evaluation

Industrial wastewater poses significant environmental and health risks due to its diverse pollutant composition. This study investigates the effectiveness of coagulation-flocculation treatment using aluminum sulfate (alum) for treating paper and pulp wastewater. The results highlight the significance of pre-biological treatment, pH optimization, alum dosages, and pre-filtration in enhancing removal efficiency for total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total organic carbon (TOC), and ion concentrations. Pre-filtration significantly improved treatment performance, resulting in a 67% reduction in TS. Ion chromatography provided insights into post-treatment ion concentration changes. Under optimal conditions, including a treatment with 500 ppm alum dosage, alkaline pH of 11, and pre-filtration, the highest TS and TOC removal efficiencies were (52%) and (77%), while TDS reduction reached a maximum of 40% at lower alum dosages (100 mg/L). This study contributes crucial insights into optimizing alum coagulation-flocculation for paper and pulp wastewater treatment, offering potential solutions to mitigate industrial pollution and secure water resources.