Use of Semipermeable Membrane Devices for Monitoring Pulp Mill Effluents: a Preliminary Assessment

Abstract

Abstract The application of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) to the monitoring of pulp mill effluents is described. SPMDs are comprised of triolein, a neutral lipid, enclosed by a low-density polymeric membrane, which together will concentrate hydrophobic aquatic pollutants. SPMDs were exposed under laboratory conditions to aqueous solutions of three model compounds with fish tainting propensity that are often found in kraft mill effluent. The model compounds were sequestered to varying extents by SPMDs during the laboratory exposures. A polar compound (guaiacol) did not appear to be amenable to monitoring by SPMDs. Static and continuous flow exposures to unbleached kraft mill effluent were also carried out, and many compounds were subsequently identified in the dialysates of exposed SPMDs. The uptake of these compounds was affected by the extent of biological treatment applied to the sample, the use of aeration during SPMD exposure, the wastewater concentration, and the exposure time. SPMDs were shown to be effective in sequestering candidate fish tainting compounds, thereby indicating their potential for application to aquatic off-flavour problems such as tainting of eulachon.