Technical Bulletin No. 0022: Report on Methods of Treating Deinking Waste

Deinking waste is primarily objectionable in its receiving stream because of the high biochemical oxygen demand (B.C.D.) of the organic material in the waste. This material is largely in solution. The high suspended solids content which is principally clay and carbonates may, in certain cases, also be objectionable, particularly if the deinking waste is to be treated with other wastes where the inert solids may interfere with normal treatment operations. These solids may likewise be objectionable in some streams because of the high turbidity induced or because of the deposition of this inorganic fraction together with its associated organic fraction. The waste has not demonstrated any direct toxic effect on aquatic life. The National Council's projects on deinking waste have, therefore, been primarily concerned with the problem of finding ways and means of economically treating or eliminating these objectionable constituents so the resulting waste can be discharged to the receiving stream without creating a public nuisance.