Spent liquors from pulp bleaching

The authors review available information on the chemical composition of pulp bleaching wastewaters, particularly those from kraft pulp mills. Topics dealt with include the composition of wood, the principles of chemical pulping of wood and of pulp bleaching, and the presence in the wastewaters of organic compounds of high and low molecular weight, acidic compounds, phenolic compounds, acutely toxic compounds, and mutagenic compounds. Alternative methods for treating the pulp to reduce the undesirable effects of the wastewaters, and processes of waste treatment are also reviewed. A bibliography of 88 references is appended.