Evaluation of aerated lagoon modified with spongy support medium treating Kraft pulp mill effluent

The pulp industry generates high effluent flows, which contain high chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), colour and ecotoxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment of Kraft pulp effluent by aerated lagoon modified with sponge support media (APG). It was assessed the arrangement of the support media in the aerated lagoons in the organic load rate (OLR) of 0.2 kgCOD m-3 d-1, and after that, with OLR variation from 0.2 to 1.2 kgCOD m-3 d-1. The parameters evaluated were BOD5, COD, colour, lignin derivatives, total phenolic compounds and acute ecotoxicity in D. magna. COD and BOD5 removals were 32% and 88%, respectively, for free and confined support media in 0.2 kgCOD m-3 d-1. There was no colour or total phenolic compounds removal under these conditions. Considering the treatment in which there was a variation of the organic load rate, 1.2 kgCOD m-3 d-1 had the best performance. In this case, 50% and 75% of COD and BOD5 were removed, respectively. Removal of colour, total phenolic compounds and lignin derivatives were around 20%, 18% and 10%, respectively. The acute ecotoxicity was reduced to toxicity factor equal to 1 in all treatments. Comparing the aerated lagoon modified systems with those without the APG, it was suggested to apply spongy support in higher organic load rate than these typically used in aerated lagoons