Mass balance of polychlorinated dibenzofurans -PCDFs- and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins -PCDDs- in a recycling paper mill

An extensive investigation on the input, formation and fate of PCDD/Fs in a recycling paper mill was carried out. Samples from different stages of the production process were analysed and a PCDD/F mass balance was calculated. The main PCDD/F input in the production process came from the waste paper, the main PCDD/F output resulted from the deinking sludge. No measurable amounts of PCDD/Fs are formed during the deinking or the paper-making processes. The PCDD/F concentrations in the recycled paper are about three times lower than the concentrations in the corresponding waste paper