Biochemistry and ecology of resin acid biodegradation in pulp and paper mill effluent treatment systems

A better understanding of the mechanisms and ecology of resin acid biodegradation will contribute to improved performance of existing treatment systems and development of new treatment systems for pulp and paper mill effluents. Using molecular genetic methods, we have partially elucidated the biochemical pathway for degradation of abietane resin acids by Pseudomonas abietaniphila BKME-9. We identified genes encoding putative membrane-associated proteins that are required for abietane metabolism. These proteins may function in cellular uptake of, or response to, resin acids. Genetic and physiological evidence suggests that a monooxygenase is involved in the biochemical pathway. A quantitative PCR assay was developed for ditA1, a gene from BKME-9 encoding resin acid degradation. In an aerated lagoon treating pulp mill effluent, a population carrying ditA1 was found, which was a small fraction (10−7) of the total microbial community. This population was evenly distributed throughout the system and was a stable member of the community over time. Quantitative PCR assays were used to monitor Pseudomonas abietaniphila BKME-9 and Zoogloea resiniphila DhA-35 when they were separately used to inoculate a complex microbial communities in laboratory sequencing batch reactors. Both inocula were stably maintained in the community for 24 days. These inocula stimulated resin acid removal by the community when it was stressed by high pH or by high resin acid loading.

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Pilot-scale comparison of thermophilic aerobic suspended carrier biofilm process and activated sludge process in pulp and paper mill effluent treatment

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2004.0171 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 95-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J.E. Suvilampi ◽

J.A. Rintala

Keyword(s):

Activated Sludge ◽

Paper Mill ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Effluent Treatment ◽

Activated Sludge Process ◽

Pulp And Paper Mill ◽

Paper Mill Effluent ◽

Biofilm Process ◽

Suspended Carrier

Thermophilic aerobic treatment of settled pulp and paper mill effluent was studied under mill premises with two comparative pilot processes; suspended carrier biofilm process (SCBP) and activated sludge process (ASP). Full-scale mesophilic activated sludge process was a reference treatment. During the runs (61 days) hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were kept 13 ± 5 h and 16 ± 6 h for SCBP and ASP, respectively. Corresponding volumetric loadings rates (VLR) were 2.7 ± 0.9 and 2.2 ± 1.0 kg CODfilt m-3d-1. Temperatures varied between 46 to 60°C in both processes. Mesophilic ASP was operated with HRT of 36 h, corresponding VLR of 0.7 kg CODfilt m-3d-1. Both SCBP and ASP achieved CODfilt (GF/A filtered) removals up to 85%, while the mesophilic ASP removal was 89 ± 2%. NTU values were markedly higher (100-300) in thermophilic effluents than in mesophilic effluent (30). Effluent turbidity was highly dependent on temperature; in batch experiment mesophilic effluent sample had NTU values of 30 and 60 at 35°C and 55°C, respectively. As a conclusion, both thermophilic treatments gave high CODfilt removals, which were close to mesophilic process removal and were achieved with less than half of HRT.

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Bioaugmentation with the resin acid-degrading bacterium Zoogloea resiniphila DhA-35 to counteract pH stress in an aerated lagoon treating pulp and paper mill effluent

Water Research ◽

10.1016/s0043-1354(01)00496-1 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 36 (11) ◽

pp. 2793-2801 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Z Yu

Keyword(s):

Resin Acid ◽

Paper Mill ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Pulp And Paper Mill ◽

Paper Mill Effluent ◽

Degrading Bacterium ◽

Ph Stress

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Coliform Bacteria and Nitrogen Fixation in Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Treatment Systems

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.66.12.5155-5160.2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 66 (12) ◽

pp. 5155-5160 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Francis Gauthier ◽

Josh D. Neufeld ◽

Brian T. Driscoll ◽

Frederick S. Archibald

Keyword(s):

Activated Sludge ◽

Water System ◽

Paper Mill ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Effluent Treatment ◽

Coliform Bacteria ◽

Pulp And Paper Mill ◽

Paper Mills ◽

Paper Mill Effluent ◽

Contrast Analysis

ABSTRACT The majority of pulp and paper mills now biotreat their combined effluents using activated sludge. On the assumption that their wood-based effluents have negligible fixed N, and that activated-sludge microorganisms will not fix significant N, these mills routinely spend large amounts adding ammonia or urea to their aeration tanks (bioreactors) to permit normal biomass growth. N2 fixation in seven Eastern Canadian pulp and paper mill effluent treatment systems was analyzed using acetylene reduction assays, quantitative nitrogenase (nifH) gene probing, and bacterial isolations. In situ N2 fixation was undetectable in all seven bioreactors but was present in six associated primary clarifiers. One primary clarifier was studied in greater detail. Approximately 50% of all culturable cells in the clarifier contained nifH, of which >90% were Klebsiella strains. All primary-clarifier coliform bacteria growing on MacConkey agar were identified as klebsiellas, and all those probed contained nifH. In contrast, analysis of 48 random coliform isolates from other mill water system locations showed that only 24 (50%) possessed thenifH gene, and only 13 (27%) showed inducible N2-fixing activity. Thus, all the pulp and paper mill primary clarifiers tested appeared to be sites of active N2fixation (0.87 to 4.90 mg of N liter−1 day−1) and a microbial community strongly biased toward this activity. This may also explain why coliform bacteria, especially klebsiellas, are indigenous in pulp and paper mill water systems.

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Removal and Transformation of Resin Acids during Secondary Treatment at a New Zealand Bleached Kraft Pulp and Paper Mill

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1994.0706 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (5-6) ◽

pp. 105-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

J. A. Zender ◽

T. R. Stuthridge ◽

A. G. Langdon ◽

A. L. Wilkins ◽

K. L. Mackie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kraft Pulp ◽

Resin Acid ◽

Paper Mill ◽

Transformation Products ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Resin Acids ◽

Treatment System ◽

Effluent Treatment ◽

Pulp And Paper Mill ◽

Bleached Kraft Pulp

Investigations were undertaken on a full scale lagoon treatment system receiving effluents from a bleached kraft pulp and paper mill which processed softwoods. The system was examined over four phases, including lagoons, aerobic transport channels and the recipient discharge point to determine the removal efficiency of resin acids during effluent treatment. The total treatment system removed 96% of the influent resin acids. The major compounds remaining after treatment were abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, and a variety of hydrogenated resin acid transformation products. Each section of the treatment system differed in its ability to remove the major classes of resin acids. For example, the average removal rates for resin acids within the first phase lagoons and of the channel leaving the lagoons were 1.2 and 17 g.kg-1 VSS.day-1, respectively. A pathway for the biodegradation and biotransformation of influent resin acids is proposed on the basis of the observed changes in effluent composition through the treatment system.

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Applying phenotypic fingerprinting in the management of wastewater treatment systems

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1998.0694 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (4-5) ◽

pp. 461-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C. A. Schneider ◽

K. Mo ◽

S. N. Liss

Keyword(s):

Paper Mill ◽

Substrate Utilization ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Effluent Treatment ◽

Management Tool ◽

Carbon Substrate ◽

Pulp And Paper Mill ◽

Fame Analysis ◽

Pulp And Paper Effluent ◽

Biolog Gn

Carbon substrate utilization profiles, phenotypic fingerprints, of microbial communities from different pulp and paper effluent treatment systems are being determined using Biolog plates. The substrates from the Biolog GN plates that were deemed to be most significant in differentiating between communities are being employed as substrate panels on Biolog MT plates. Correlative microbiological tests including FAME analysis, heterotrophic plate counts, and epifluorescent microscopy are performed on the samples. By correlating the phenotypic fingerprints to pulp and paper mill processes and operation parameters in the treatment systems, the carbon substrate utilization profile has shown potential as a useful management tool.

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