Additive and additive-free treatment technologies for pulp and paper mill effluents: Advances, challenges and opportunities

In the present manuscript, novel effluent treatment processes for pulp and paper mill effluents are divided into two categories: a) those involving the use of chemical additives and b) those which are free of such chemicals. It is especially of high importance for pulp and paper industry to adopt the most efficient and cost-effective treatment methods. This paper critically reviews the recent studies on the treatment of pulp and paper mill effluents while providing suggestions for further studies on the application of various physic-chemical and biological methods for the treatment of such complex effluents containing a number of recalcitrant pollutants. Keywords: Pulp and paper industry, Industrial effluents, Chemical additives, Non-additive treatment processes