Lowering COD in a Zero Liquid Discharge Pulp and Paper Industry Facility
EnBiorganic’s EBS-Di system reduced COD by up to 50% in Canada’s only zero liquid discharge pulp and paper industry facility.
Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp (MLMP) runs the only pulp facility in Canada with zero liquid discharge. Rather than releasing its wastewater, the mill recycles enough water to fill 2.5 Olympic sized swimming pools every day. This positions the facility as a leader in water conservation in an industry facing demands to cut water usage and effluent output.
Despite its zero liquid discharge credentials, the mill struggled to maintain water quality during its reuse process. The water exhibited high chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels, green coloration, and persistent odors. These issues hindered the plant’s reuse process and compromised pulp quality – no one wants to write on green paper.
The MLMP team partnered with EnBiorganic and Isle’s Trial Reservoir, seeking a solution to improve water quality and protect product integrity. Following unsuccessful attempts with traditional bioaugmentation, MLMP chose the EBS-Di treatment technology from EnBiorganic Technologies. The EBS-Di system generates and dispenses up to 720 liters of active state microbes adapted to wastewater. These proprietary, certified organic, common soil bacteria are both safe and effective for treating pulp and paper wastewater.
The trial aimed to prove the system could reduce effluent chemical oxygen demand by at least 30% to <600 ppm. Two additional subjective objectives included reducing the water odor and the green water color for reuse in the production process.
The trial exceeded expectations, reducing chemical oxygen demand by 30% in 6 months and 50% in the last 6 weeks. This success led to a 3-year service agreement to continue using the system for water treatment and reuse.
Benefits of Approach/Innovation
- Significant chemical oxygen demand reduction: The trial reduced COD levels by 30% over six months, with a 50% reduction achieved in the final six weeks.
- Improved water quality: The EBS-Di system minimized the wastewater stream’s green colouration and persistent odors.
- Safe, effective microbes: The microbes used are non-GMO, non-toxic, certified organic bacteria found naturally in the soil.
- Highly effective: As natural consumers of organic materials, the microbes proved highly effective at managing pulp milling wastewater streams.
Specialist Services Involved:
- Trial design support: We evaluate technology trial plans based on users’ innovation frames. The Trial Reservoir specifically addresses key questions that the trial must answer.
- Trial validation: We receive and assess the trial end report from the technology vendor. We offer a neutral professional opinion on whether the conclusions that have been drawn are well supported by the data generated.
- Due diligence: Isle has a robust process for helping stakeholders adopt innovative technologies and ensuring they are fit for purpose.
- Loan funding: Isle facilitates negotiation with technology developers and end users to agree upon the trials’ critical success factors and key performance indicators (KPIs). Loans are then released to the technology developers.
- Zero risk trial: Should a trial not meet its KPIs, there is no obligation for the tech company to pay back the loan. Similarly, there is no obligation for the end user to make a purchase order; the Trial Reservoir assumes the risk.
Outcomes:
- Trial success: By meeting its objectives, the trial demonstrated that EnBiorganic’s EBS-Di system improved effluent quality.
- Reduced chemical oxygen demand levels: The trial resulted in a significant decrease of COD levels, achieving reductions of up to 50%.
Key Contacts:
For enquiries and further information, please contact Jo Burgess, Head of Trial Reservoir at Isle Utilities.