Treatment of C-stage and E-stage effluents from a bleach plant using a ceramic membrane

C-stage effluent, E-stage effluent and a total effluent (C-stage and E-stage effluent mixed in proportion to the volumes of the effluents at the mill) have been treated with a ceramic microfilter membrane. The flux of the total effluent was considerably lower than of the separate effluents. The fluxes of the E-stage and C-stage effluents were 550 and 1,300 l/m2h, respectively, while the flux of the total effluent was only 150 l/m2h. The low filtration capacity is thought to be caused by adsorption of substances onto the membrane. The influence of pH on the filtration capacity of C- and E-stage effluent was clearly demonstrated.