Nonpurgeable total organic halide analysis and the characterization of river water quality adjacent to the discharge from a kraft mill

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 27; no. 12; pp. 2311 - 2317
• Main Authors: Watts, Geoffrey B, Locke, Bruce R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.11.1993
• Subjects: AGUA; Applied sciences; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; COMPOSICION QUIMICA; COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE; Continental surface waters; COURS D'EAU; CURSOS DE AGUA; DECHET; DESECHOS; EAU; Effluents; Exact sciences and technology; FLORIDA; FLORIDE; Freshwater; KRAFT MILL EFFLUENT; Natural water pollution; Pollution; POLLUTION DE L'EAU; POLUCION DEL AGUA; RIVERS; WASTES; WATER; WATER POLLUTION; Water quality; Water treatment and pollution; Wood products; Florida; United States; North America; America; USA, Florida, Fenholloway R; Chemical analysis; Industrial waste water; Water quality; Stream; Outfall; Waste water discharge; Halogen Organic compounds; Paper industry
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es00048a003

Examination of river water quality downstream of the outfall from a kraft mill has shown that the mill effluent water (bleach liquor) contains significant amounts of chlorinated organic compounds. These compounds, which appear to be polymeric in nature, may be indirectly detected in the river using the nonpuregeable total organic halide (NPTOX) test. Approximately 30% of the chlorinated organic content of the river is contained in an acid insoluble material (Fenextract), which was separated from the other components in a river-water sample by pH adjustment. Fenextract appears to be a macromolecular chlorinated thiolignin that is formed in the kraft bleaching process when chlorine dioxide is the primary oxidizing agent. Chemical and spectroscopic characterization of Fenextract has allowed some additional insight to be gained into the reaction mechanism occurring during the chlorine dioxide bleaching process.