Technical Bulletin No. 0046: Sedimentation and Chemical Coagulation of Rag, Rope, and Jute Wastes

Council Technical Bulletin Number 46, which is enclosed herewith, is a continuation of the work on Rag, Rope and Jute Pulping Wastes previously reported in Technical Bulletin Number 41. The scope of the work herein reported covers the treatment of these wastes by physical and chemical means as investigated by the Rutgers University Project of the Council both in the laboratory and pilot and full scale plant installations located at mills pulping these raw materials. It is concluded from the studies that sedimentation is effective only in reducing the suspended solids content of these wastes appreciably, but a relatively small percentage of the BOD or color is removed. Chemical coagulation does not greatly improve suspended solids or BOD reduction but does effect good color removal. Irrespective of the chemicals employed, the quantities required were found to be very high. Voluminous and hydrous sludges were produced which would not dewater by conventional methods. Hence, drying by lagooning or evaporation would generally be necessary to prepare them for disposal. This bulletin will be followed shortly by the last portion of this research which involves treatment of these wastes by biological means. Criticism and suggestions in respect to this research are respectfully solicited.