Abstract

This paper examined the ability of Penicillium camemberti to degrade hemp-based pulp and paper plant bleachery effluents in batch and up-flow column reactor studies. In batch tests, the highest removals for acid-line effluents (67% AOX (adsorbable organic halogens), 44% TOC 8 total organic carbon), 97% color) were obtained with 2 g/l acetate concentration in 10 days. Acid-line and alkali-line composite effluent was also fed to a column reactor with of 17 mg/l. AOX concentration. In column studies, the highest removals (57% AOX, 67% TOC, and 74% color) and (57% AOX, 48% TOC and 73% color) were obtained with 0.5 and 0.2 g/l feed acetate concentration in 20 days, respectively. Gas chromatography analysis indicated drastic reductions at low molecular weight adsorbable organic halogen compounds.

Key words: Hemp, bleaching, adsorbable organic halogens, pulping, Penicillium camemberti, molecular weight, up-flow reactor.