Evaluation of pollution parameters and toxic elements in wastewater of pulp and paper industries in India: A case study

Pulp and paper industries (PPI) generate an enormous amount of wastewater which are heavily loaded with a variety of pollutants. Aim of this study to evaluate different physico-chemical pollution parameters and the occurrence of toxic elements in the wastewater of four PPI located in the Utter Pradesh and Uttarakhand regions of India. Results revealed that the physico-chemical analysis of discharged wastewater from selected four PPI showed high pollution parameters along with heavy metals. Industry-1 has containing with high pH (8.03 ± 0.01), BOD (9364± 170), COD (26548± 234), EC (1756 ± 67.24), TS (3156 ± 136), TDS (1954 ± 2.14), and TSS (156 ± 1.03). Industry- 2 has containing with high pH (8.06 ± 0.03), BOD (8634 ± 104), COD (56872 ± 211), EC (1896 ± 23.01), TS (4365 ± 120), TDS (1634 ± 31.49), and TSS (124 ± 1.00). Industry- 3 have containing with high pH (8.05 ± 0.02), BOD (8567 ± 214), COD (35478 ± 234), EC (6479 ± 124.05), TS (2456 ± 187), TDS (1354 ± 31.02), TSS (136 ± 1.01), and Industry- 4 have containing with high pH (8.07 ± 0.05), BOD (7136 ± 151), COD (26324 ± 348), EC (1531 ± 91.05), TS (3147 ± 171), TDS (2465 ± 33.15), and TSS (248 ± 2.31) were above the permissible limit. The conclusions of this study, the PPI wastewater should be treated at a tertiary stage before discharged in environmental.