Global Journal of Environmental Research 4 (1): 18-22, 2010

ISSN 1990-925X
© IDOSI Publications, 2010

Studies on the Characterization and Possibilities of Reutilization of Solid Wastes from a

Waste Paper Based Paper Industry
1
Suriyanarayanan. S., 1 A.S. Mailappa, 1 D. Jayakumar, 2 K. Nanthakumar,
2
K. Karthikeyan and 1 S. Balasubramanian
1
DRDO-BU Centre for Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences,
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract: The disposal of industrial wastes is a problem of increasing importance throughout the world. Sludge
from paper mills are produced in large quantities in most industrial nations of the world today due to the large
usage of paper, constitute one of our most serious environmental problems. Paper mill sludge has substantially
little usage as a material that can be employed in other industrial applications. Because of its non-utility, the
paper mill sludge is merely discarded, along with other waste cellulosic fiber, creating a tremendous disposal
problem. The characteristics of biosolids are variable and directly related to the technology used to pulp, the
wood and manufacture the paper and to the type of effluent treatment that is employed.The aim of this work
is to investigate and qualify the dried sludge from a recycled paper mill and the results were compared with the
earlier reports and the possibilities of reutilization for composting / soil amendment were evaluated.

Key words: Sludge % Nutrients % Effluent % Paper mill % Recycle

INTRODUCTION industries is generated usually in various stages of paper

Solid wastes generated from industrial sources are
heterogeneous in composition, ranging from inert
inorganic (such as produced in mining and collieries) to
organic (in industries producing basic consumer
products) and may include even hazardous constituents
(as in pesticide industry). Sludge is the largest by-product
of the pulp and paper industry and disposal of sludge
is a major solid waste problem for the industry [1,2].
It was predicted that a global shift in paper and
paperboard production would result in the Asia-Pacific
region emerging as a major producer of papermill sludge.
Global production of papermill sludge was predicted to
rise over the next 50 years by between 48 and 86% over
current levels [3].
The nature of sludge generated from paper industries
is mainly depends on the raw materials used in different
unit processes. Sludge generated from the industrial
sources contains a large number of ingredients, some of
which are toxic.
Solid waste is generated from the both large and
small categories of paper mills. Solid waste from paper
production viz., (the raw material handling and preparation
sections as sludge from the effluent treatment plants,
causticizing section in the chemical recovery unit in the
form of lime mud). Solid waste disposal is usually to
landfill, although incineration is becoming increasingly
widespread. Prior to any land application of solid
residues, the levels of chemicals of concern need to be
routinely demonstrated to fall below realistic regulatory
levels.
The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the
characteristics of a wastepaper based paper mill bio-solids
and the possibilities of recycling as a soil amendment/
compost.
Methodology: The sludge samples were collected in air
tight plastic containers from the sludge drying bed of
the effluent treatment plant. Four representative
sludge samples derived from different varieties of
paper production were collected for their chemical
characteristics using standard methods of Jackson [4]:
Piper [5] and Lindsay and Norwell [6]. The laboratory
analysis was performed sub-samples, in triplicate.

Corresponding Author: Dr. S.Suriyanarayanan, DRDO-BU Centre for Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore -641 046,
Tamil Nadu, India
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 Global J. Environ. Res., 4 (1): 18-22, 2010
Fig. 1: Location of Kanchipuran district in Tamilnadu
Study Area Description: Cholan Paper and Board Mills
Ltd., is a waste paper based paper mill and is located at
Pukkathurai village in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu
and situated in the Southern agro climatic zone, which lies
at a geographical location of 12.12° N and 79.32° E (Fig. 1).
The production capacity of the Cholan paper mill is 18
tonnes per day. Annual production of this mill is above
6000 to 7000 tonnes. The wastewater generated from
various stages of manufacturing are intermittent and the
total wastewater discharge for the maximum production
capacity of 18 tonnes is 950 m3/day. The paper mill has
installed an effluent treatment plant to treat 1100m3/day at
a cost of 50 lakhs. The effluent treatment plant has
primary and secondary treatment systems.
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RESULTS
Waste paper mill sludges originating from different
effluent treatment and de-inking installations are
complex mixtures of inorganic and organic particles.
Due to their favourable physico-chemical, and
microbiological characteristics, they may be conveniently
reused for different purposes as such or after appropriate
pretreatment [7]. Effluents from the Cholan paper industry
were extensively tested and results were presented in
Table 1. The characteristics of treated effluent are
compared with the standards of Common Effluent
Treated Plant (CETP), Central Pollution Control Board,
Ministry of Environment and Forest growth of India.
 Global J. Environ. Res., 4 (1): 18-22, 2010

Table 1 : Effluent characteristics of Cholan Paper and Board Mill PVT. Ltd. the paper mill recorded low contents of total nitrogen,
Physico Chemical Raw effluent Treated effluent phosphorous and potassium with the values of
S.No Parameters Mean (n=12) Mean (n=12) 0.05mg/kg, 0.03 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively.
1. SS (mg LG1) 245 118-154 The calcium and magnesium contents were found
1
2. TDS (mg LG ) 2534 645-925 to be 12 mg/kg and 26.4 mg/kg, respectively. The solid
3. pH 7.02 7.3-8.2 waste of Cholan paper mill sludge contained appreciable
4. EC (dSmG1) 1.27 1.13-1.43 amounts of micronutrients. The contents of Zn, Fe, and
5. OC (%) 0.56 0.48-0.77 Cu in sludge recorded were 0.15 mg/kg, 0.031 mg/kg and
6. BOD (mg LG1) 261 56-77 0.25 mg/kg respectively.
7. COD (mg LG1) 1996 248-362
8. N (mg LG1) 19 12-28
DISCUSSION
9. P (mg LG1) 1.27 1.21-1.51
10. K (mg LG1) 18.78 16.3-24.2
The effluent quality was satisfied with common
1
11. Ca (mg LG ) 384 212-286
effluent treatment disposal values and the treatment plant
12. Mg (mg LG1) 164 48-94
using sufficient coagulants and the sludge settleability
13. Na (mg LG1) 744 326-480
was well managed in the effluent treatment plant. From
14. Sulphates (mg LG1) 242 98-138
this study, the physical and chemical properties of paper
15. SAR 3.58 2.01-3.05
mill sludge largely depend on the nature of pulping and
papermaking or recycling process, the wastewater
Table 2: Sludge characteristics of Cholan paper and board mills Pvt. Ltd.
treatment process, as well as the material feedstock used
S.No Parameters Mean
at mill. The pH was observed to be neutral (6.90) in the
1. Moisture 80 %
sludge of paper mill. The EC was found to be relatively
2. Loss of ignition (at 650o C) 22.8 %
higher in the sludge (1.5 dsmG1) than the raw and treated
3. Ash content 77.2 %
effluent. An increased pH and EC of paper mill solid
4. Calorific Value (dry basis) 1000.00 %
waste corroborated with the results of Simard et al., [8].
5. pH 6.89±0.15
The application of sludge with a considerable C: N
6. EC [cmol (+).kgG1] 44.71±0.79
ratio in the soil is of very much important in enhancing the
7. C:N Ratio 24.83±1.43
8. Organic Carbon (mg/kg) 1.32±0.18
soil fertility. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
9. Nitrogen (mg/kg) 0.05±0.01
values of the sludge were found to be 0.053, 0.024 and
10. Phosphorus (mg/kg) 0.03±0.01
0.051 mg kgG1 respectively. According to WESA, [9],
11. Potassium (mg/kg) 0.05±0.01 calcium in paper mill biosolids, is ranging between 1% to
12. Calcium (mg/kg) 12.00±1.31 10%. The present study showed that the calcium content
13. Magnesium (mg/kg) 26.41±2.53 of the sludge is very low (12 mg kgG1) when compared to
14. Zinc (mg/kg) 0.15±0.02 the earlier reports. The micro and macro nutrients
15. Iron (mg/kg) 0.03±0.01 contents were very minimum level when compared to the
16. Copper (mg/kg) 0.25±0.02 reports of Bellamy et al., [10], Alberta Environmental
n (No. of samples) = 12 Protection, [11], WESA, [9].
Cholan paper mill generates large amounts of sludge
All the parameters of treated effluent are well within the and this can be used in many different ways, depends
limit of CETP standards except the COD values. Twelve upon collection and processing. Currently, most sludge
representative sludge samples have been collected from produced paper mills is dewatered and landfilled.
the paper mill effluent treatment plant during the Landfills are becoming difficult to site and costly to
production of different variety of papers. The analytical construct and operate because of more stringent
results on the physico-chemical characteristics of paper regulations, diminishing land availability, and public
mill sludge are presented in Table 2. The mean pH value opposition [12,13]. Landfilling with or without incineration
of the sludge was 6.89 and acidic in nature. The mean or precomposting is the most common disposal method.
electrical conductivity of the solid waste was found to be Composted paper mill wastes have been proposed as
44.71 (Cmol (p+) kgG1). The mean value of organic carbon good soil conditioners because of their high OM content
content of the sludge was 1.31 mg/kg. The solid waste of and low toxicity [14].

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 Global J. Environ. Res., 4 (1): 18-22, 2010
The C: N ratio of 30 to 40:1 would be desirable for
composting process. Deficiency in this ratio needs some
additional nutrients for composting [15]. The result of the
present study of paper mill sludge showed that the level
of nutrients required were below the level required for
composting [15]. Therefore the paper mill biosolids are not
suitable for direct composting and required additional
nutrients to enhance the composting process.
There is an evidence of tree growth enhancement
through addition of paper mill residue, suggesting its
potential use as soil amendments. Forty years of pine
plantation is showed increase percentage of foliar dry
mass, needle length and diameter growth from paper
mill residuals at application rates ranging from 16 to
32 mg haG1 [16]. It has been demonstrated that, when
properly managed applications of pulp and paper
mill biosolids to agricultural fields can provide benefits
through accelerated biomass production and improvement
of soil quality without adverse effects to the environment.
Characterization research mainly emphasis the knowledge
of the chemical characteristics of solid wastes for
selecting and designing the waste processing and
disposal facilities.
Concern for disposal of paper mill sludge in landfills
has increased over the last 10 years. Land filling and
incineration of by-products have become unfavorable
means of disposal [17,10,18]. Alternatives for disposing of
paper mill sludge currently are being sought. The high
organic matter content and low trace metal and organic
pollutants in pulp and paper mill sludge suggest that
these residuals may provide a valuable resource for soil
amendments [10]. As supplies for traditional organic
amendments including peat moss, composts, and farm
manures are diminishing near urban areas, opportunities
for beneficial use of paper mill sludge on land have
increased [18-20]. Successful use of paper mill sludge in
agriculture must demonstrate, without adverse effects,
that crops benefit or soil properties improve from the
addition of the sludge as a soil amendment.
As mentioned before, paper sludge is mainly
composed of fibrous fines; therefore, it may have
potential application in particleboard production as an
alternative to wood fiber. The process of particleboard
production with paper sludge as a surface layer is similar
to that of particleboard production using a combination of
wood fibers and wood particles.
A few research efforts have been conducted on
using paper sludge as a substitute for wood fiber to
21
manufacture fiberboard [21], Fernandez [22], Asghar [23].
Some pretreatments, such as removing inorganic materials
and dirt from paper sludge, may be important before use
in particleboard production.
CONCLUSION
Based on the above aspects this sludge can be used
as a fuel or energy source in bark boilers, as a bulking
agent or carbon source for composting, used in animal
bedding, or can be used as a raw material in the
manufacture of absorbents. This can also be use as
alternative cover at a sanitary landfill when mixed with soil
in 50:50 volume. The application of Cholan paper sludge
for particleboard manufacture requires further
investigation on mechanical properties, water resistance,
adhesive and bondability.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Authors are thankful to the University for
providing necessary facilities to carryout the research
work.
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