METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING PAPER MILL EFFLUENT

摘要

A method and apparatus for recovering wash water from effluent generated by a pulp and paper mill. The method includes filtering (20, 24, 30) at least a portion of the effluent to form a filtrate stream and an organic solids feed stream (40). The organic solids feed stream (40) is exposed to a temperature and a pressure which are supercritical for water (110) to cause a substantial portion of the organic component to oxidize and form a product stream that, when cooled, includes a gaseous component, an inorganic solids component, and a liquid wash water component. The wash water component (60) is separated from the gaseous and inorganic solids components, thereby recovering wash water.