CA2127687A1 - Method of removing toxic resin acids and fatty acids from pulp and paper effluent and other streams - Google Patents

Abstract

A method is described for improving the removal of toxic resin acids and fatty acids from pulp and paper effluent and from other streams containing resins and fatty acids. The addition of an anionic material, such as albumin, gelatin, alginate or alginic acid prior to clarification with conventional or state of the art cationic coagulation clarification or retentionwill improve the removal of resin acids and fatty acids.

Description

2127~

~THOD OF R13 MOVING TOXIC RESIN ACIDS ~D ~ Y ACIDS
FROM PULP AND PAPI~R EFlFLl~ENT AND OTlEilER STR~AMS
FIELD OlF I~NTION
This invention relates to the use of an aruonic material as a S pretreatment step for improving the removal of resLll acids and fatty acids from waste waters. More specifically this invention relates ~o the use of albumin, gelatin, alginate or al~uc acid as a pretreatment step for improving the removal of resin acids aIld fatty acids from waste waters, wherein the alginate or alginic acid is preferred.
~A~K(j:RplJ~D ~ PRIC3R ART
Traditionally resin and fatty acids which naturally occur in various forms during the manufacturing of pulp and paper products, provide objectionable ~atures to these prbcesses and e~uent waters. Historically, many ~hemical and mechanical methods have been used to remove, bind or inactivate these compounds. Olle such example of a method ~or treating pulp and paper waste water is found in U.S. Patent No. 4,738,750 which discloses the use of a polyamine coagulant which coagulates lignins, degraded sugars and other compounds which typically discolour the waste water. I~he coagulation part;cles are increased in size by the addition of an acrylamide polymer. The ilocculated material is then removed from the waste water.
The use of acrylamides in ef~uent flocculation is also dis~osed in U.S. Patent No. 4,5~6,294.

U.S. Patent No. 4,089,780 discloses a method for removing colour ~om pulp and paper waste waters by fïrst treating the waste water with a cationic water-soluble polyamine and thereafter adding a suitable organic coagulating polymer.

The specific problem ~ removing toxic resin and fatty acids from the waste water of a pulp and paper mLII has been addressed in Canadian Patent Application 2,023,735. The process, of this patent application, utilizes 2~,7~
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a composition comprising a water-soluble non-ionic polyallylene ether containing lower allyl groups in the alkyl chain and an ionic water-soluble polymer. E~owever, the results achieved by this method show, at the very best, a 37% removal of the resin acid after treatment. In order to be an S effective waste water treatmen~ process, improved results over that shown in the prior art must be ac~ieved.

SUP~IMA~Y OF~.INVENTIQN
l'hus according to the present invention there is provided a method of removing toxic resin acids alld fatty acids from pulp and paper ef~luent and other streams contadning resins a~ids and fat~ acids. According to the metbod of the present invention, an ~nionic matenal is added to the waste water pnor to cla~ cation with conventional cationic polymers. According to tbe method of the present invention tbe anionic materlal is selected from gelatin, albumin amd alginate, wherein the alginate is preferred.

In one embodiment of the present i2lvention there is provided a method of purifying waste water containing resin acids and fatty acids comprising adding an effective amount of an algLnate, in a metallis salt form or acid form thereof, to the waste water and then adding a cationic polymer to coagulate or flocculate the complexed alginate and resin acids and fatty acids, and separate the resultant precipitate, thus reducing the concentration of the resin and ~at~ acids in the waste waters.

This invention is also directed to a comiposition for treating waste waters containing resin acids and fatty acids comprising an anionic material, selected from the group consisting of gelatin, albumin, or an algiDiate, in a metallic salt form or acid form thereof9 and a cationic polymer.

BRIEF ~ESGRIP~O~ OF THIE ~JRES
Figure 1 shows a schematic of a pilot plant snitable for the treatment of was~e water according to the present invention.

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I~ET~ILED DESCRlPrlON OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of improving the removal of resin acids and fatty acids frorn waste water. This method comprises ~he addition of an anionic material to the waste water S prior to treatment with conventional cationic polymers.

The present invention is based on the discovery that pre-treatment of the waste water with an anionic material improves the removal of resin acids cr fatty acids ~om the waste stream. Prior art treatments which generally rely on the use of a ca~ionic polymer, either alone or together with other compounds, show variable reported results. However, the average prior art methods of rernoval of contaminants from the waste streams are wi~
the range of 3~60~o. According to one embodiment of the presen~ invention, the addition of an alginate prior ~o clarification with conventional cationic polymers impro~es the removal of resin acids up to 98~o and the removal of fatty acids up to 94%.

This invention is particularly applicable to pulp and paper waste water t~eatment, however, it can also be used for the treatmen~ of any waste stream for the removal of resin acids and fatty acids.

The anionic material of the present invention is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, albumin or alginate, wherein the alginates are preferred. The alginates according to the present invention can be present in one of its metallic salt forms or acid forms. ~ranous gelatins, albumins or alginates of different molecular weights can be used according to the present in~ertion. Representative examples of alginates wbich call be used according to the present invention include alginic acid and sodium alginate, potassium algina~e or magnesium alginate. The alginate is prepared for convenience a~
a 1% solution~ preferably a 1% sodium alginate solution. In order to ~ud the affinity of the alginate for the resin acid or fatty acid material, in some cases an acid was added to acidi~ the alg~nate. Any ~ype of acid would be 2~27~7 .....

appropriate, but for co~venience and for economic reasons, sulphuric acid was used ~or this purpose. In one example of the invention, a 0.5 ml of concentrated sulphuric acid was added per 100 ml of 1% solution of sodium alginate to acidi~ the sodium alginate. Not to be bound by any particular S theory, it is thought that the acidified al~nate in slightly hydrophobic and as such has a greater afEinity for the hydrophobis resin and fatty acids.

A suitable dose of gelatin, album n or alginate, for the precipitation of resin acids and fatty acids from waste waters, raIlges ~om 4 ppm to 250 ppm, preferably from 5 ppm to 50 ppm. In general the amount of anionic material to be added to the was~e water is deterlI~ined empiricaLly for each di~erent ~pe of waste stream to be treated. In general a dose of 50 ppm will in most circumstances be adequate, but it is within the sldll of one in the art to vary the concentration according to the need.
The anionic material is first added to the waste water to be treated for a minimum contact time of 20 seconds before ~he addi~ion of a cationic material. The resin acids-fatty acids/anionic material complex ;s quite stable and thus can remained complexed, be~ore the addition of caffonic material for long periods of time without adverse effect. A wide range of cationic materials have been used in the prior art and are considered to be within the scope of the present in~ention. For example, a number of cationic materials are deiïned in U.S. Patent No. 3,3779274 (incorporated herein by reference).
Some examples of usable cationic materials include polyamines, polyacrylamides, acrylamide co-polymers, diallyl dimethylammoniumchlonde, cationic condensate polyrner sold under the tradename DEC 50 (Floerger).

The cationic polymers are used according to the present inveIltion for ~he removal of the anionic material which is bound to the resin acids and fatty acids. As with the anionic material the amount of cationic polymer added to llocculate or precipitate the contaminating materials will vary depending on the waste water to be ~reated. In the examples provided herein 2~2~i7 s-the amount of polyacrylamide ranged from S ppm to 75 ppm, preferably ranging from S ppm to 50 ppm. When a polyamine was used in conjunction with the polyacrylamide the range of the polyamine was ~om 10 ppm to 300 ppm, preferably from 10 ppm ~o 100ppm.
S

In general the process of the present invention can be used with conventional waste water treatment processes and facilities already in place such as primaIy sedimentation and filtration. If additional ~acilities are required, a treatment plant as depicted in Figare 1, could be used according to the present invention.

In all of the examples described herein, sarnples of waste water were taken ~om various pulp ~d paper mills a~d subjected ~o the treatment according to the present iIlvention using ei~her a small scale laboratoIy treatment facilit~, a pilot plant as shown in Figure 1 or a similar treatment system. The primary mixing tank 10 comprises two zonesl zone 1, 12, and zone 2, 14. The anionic material, ~or exaInple alginate is added to zone 1 of the primary m~xing tank 10, from a first chemical feed tank 16, fed from the ~ank to the primary mi~g tank by conventional means, tbrough feed line 18 and pulping means 20. The effluent is pumped, by conventional means, directly from the pulp and paper plant or other industrial plant or from a storage holding facili~ into the primary mLxing tank 10 initiaUy into zone 1, 12. After an initial mixing of the effluent with the alginate, with a minimum contact time of 20 seconds, cationic material is added to ilocculate and clari~
the effluent waste stream. If a low molecular weight cationic material such as a polyamine is to be added to the prirnary mixer, it is added ~om a second chemical feed tank 22, the low molecular sationic material being fed into zone 1, 12, of the prima~y mL~ng taDk :10 by conventional ~eed lirles 24 and pumping means 26. A high molecular weight cationic material, for example polyacrylaII~ide, is then added to zone 2, 14, of the pnmary ~g tank 10 and communicated with the pretrea~ed ef~luent by way of a ~g means 2~.
A third chemical feed ta~k 29, containing the high molecular weight cationic 2~7~7 ......

material communicates with zone 2, 14, by conventional feed lines 30 and pumping means 31. ~he contents of zone 1 and 2 are :in direc~
communication with each other as there is no separation between the two ~ones at the lower end of zone 2.
Following the polyacrylamide's coagulation of the waste materials ~om the efEluent, the treated material is removed from ~he p~ y mixi~g tank by conventional means through feed line 32 and added to a clarifier referred to generally by reference numeral 3~!. The clarifieF provides means of separating the treated ei~luent ~om the coagulated material or sludge.
The trea~ed eflluent is held in the cla~i~ing tank for 60 to 120 miIlutes to facilitate the se~ling of the coagulated material. This material is then removed by conventional means through ~eed line 36 into a sludge tank 38.
Mechanical methods for removing the coagulated resi~s and fat~r acids could include primary settling or iloatation such as sludge blan~cet clarification, foam or froth ~oatation, dissolved or induced air floatation. l~e cli~ed e~uent is ialso removed by conventional means through feed line 4~ to the final effluent tanlc 42.

F~ow rate of the eflluent, in the pilot plant described above, is 6 to 8 gallons per minute.

The examples which follow illustrate ~ypical results for treatment of waste waters ~sing the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting. The waste water sar[lples were taken from local pulp and paper plants. Standard techniques were used for the chemical analyses of the treated and ~mtreated effluent.

Exampl,ç_l The waste water sample was from the Bowater Paper Mac~ine and Spill Tank. The sample was treated by first adding addified sodium alginate at a dose of 50 ppm followed by the addition of polyacrylamide at 25 ppm.

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Chemical analysis of the fatty acids remaining in the ef~luent after treatment showed a 94.4 percent reduction in fatt3! acids, when compared to the untreated effluent, as shown below in Table 1. ~ . :
, T~ble l Fa~ cid an~ly~i~be~ore an.d a~ter emuent treatment FattD AcidTreated Ef~uent IJn~ted E~luent Palmitic Acid 50 655 Oleic Acid 175 2940 Linoleic Acid 360 6~0 ~nolenic Acid 23 343 Totals 608 10780 Percent Fatty Acid Reduction 94.4%

- 2~27~7 Table 2 shows the results of the resin acid concentration in the untreated eflluent and concentration of resin acids after treatment, according to the present invention. The results demonstrate a 96~o reduction in the total resin acid concentration. ~
;
Table 2 Res;n Acid Analysis be~or~ ~nd ~fter e~ ent tr~ent Resin~cid Treated E~luent IJn~E~h~ent PLmaric Acid 56 800 Sandaracopimaric 127 2610 Neoabietic 22 3810 Dehydroabietic S10 8660 Abietic 720 14430 Palustric 34 5010 Isopimaric 256 5480 Totals 1730 4080 Percent Resin Acid Reduction 96%

ExampiQ2 In this example, samples were ~aken ~om Canadian Key Fibres Sewer number 1 and number 2 and treated according to ~e protocol discussed above. In this example, alginate was added at a dose of 250 ppm ~ollowed by the addition of polyacrylamide at a dose of 10 ppm. R~sin acid concentrations, before and after treatme~t, aTe shown below in Tables 3 and 4 for the samples obtained from sewer 1 and 2, respectively. ~e percent reduction in fatty acid concentration was not determined in this Exarllple.

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~.` g Table 3 Resill Acid Anal~is o~ untreated ~nd treated e~luent ~m sewer # 1 lRe~in ~cidTreated Emuent Un~eated Emuellt Pimaric Acid 6 142 Sandaracopimaric 8 123 Neoabietic 9 101 Dehydroabietic 80 3090 Abietic 55 1110 Palustric 16 223 -~
IsopLmanc 31 . 289 Totals 2û5 5080 Percellt Resin Acid Reduction 96%

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lResin ~i~ Analyæis Q~ntr~Ated an~ trentçd ~f~ent f~o~
~e~er # 2 Resin Acidl~ated Efnuent UlltreatedE~uellt Pimaric Acid 4 121 Sandaracopimaric 5 91 Neoabietic 3 58 Dehydroabietic 55 1580 :
Abietic 26 750 Palustric 4 148 ~ :
Isopimaric 13 228 Totals 110 2980 Percent Resin Acid iE~eduction 96.3%

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Example 3 In this example, waste water was obtained from Bowater TMP
Pressate and Wash Water. Duplica~e samples were obtained. Each sample was further sub-divided eight times and valying concentrations of alginate, 19 ppm or sn ppm, polyamine, 40 ppm or 100 ppm, and polyacrylamide, S0 ppm or 75 ppm, were added. l~e percent reduction of fatty acids ranged from 62~o to 96%. The percent reduction of resin acids ranged from 68% to 98%.
Four samples, run 1-8, run 2-8, run 1-6 and run 2-6 are described in more detail. The dosage ~or these four samples was as follows. For run 1-8 and run 2-8, alginate was added at a dose of S0 ppm, which was followed by treatment vwith the low molecular weight cati~nic polymer polyamine at a does of 100 ppm, which was then in turn followed by the addition of polyacrylamide at a dose rate of 75 ppm. For run 1-6 and run 2-6, the effluent was treated first with alginate at a dose of 19 ppm followed by polyamine at 100 ppm and polyacrylarnide at 75 ppm. The resul~s from these tests are shown in tables, which ~ollow. Table S shows the resin acid analysis of the treated ef~uent and the untreated efrluent from run 1-6, demonstrating a 93.3~o removal of resin acids.
Tahle S
l~esio Açid Analysjs Qf ~e~ted and untreated from run 1-6 Resin Acid Treated Emuellt Untrea~ ent Pimaric Acid 222 2960 Sanda~acopimaric 490 6360 Neoabietic 947 9540 Dehydroabietic 1210 8450 Abietic 19S0 46530 `
Palustric 140~ 170~0 Isopimaric 864 14740 _ _ Totals 7090 105670 Percent lResin Acid Reduction 93.3%

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Table 6 shows thP fat~ acid analysis of the untreated and treated effluent of the same saTnple (run 1-6) demonstrating an 85.7% removal of fatty acids.
T~ble 6 SFa~b Acid Anal~sis ~f tre~ted and untreated e~1uent from r~n 1-6 Fae~ Acid Treated E~luent Unt~ Effluent Palmitic Acid 70 450 Oleic Acid 217 1780 Iinoleic Acid 435 2780 Linolenic Acid 45 . 337 Totals 767 5350 Percent Fatt~ Acid Reduction 85.7%
Table 7 shows the resirl acid analysis of the uIltreated and treated ei~luent ~om run 1~8 demonstrating a 97% reduction of total resin acids. ~ :
The corresponding fat~ acid analysis from this sample i5 shown in Table 8, wherein the percentage of ~atty acid reduction was 95.85'o.

- 2~7~1~7 Tabl~ 7 Resin Aci~l Analysis of tre~ted and untr~ated effluent Resin Acid ~eated E~fluentUntrea~edEDllueDlt Pimaric Ac~d 94 2960 Sandalacopimaric 235 6360 Neoabietic 362 9540 Dehydroabietic 552 8450 Abietic 1~0 46530 PalustIic 548 17090 Isopimaric 4~ 14740 Totals 3210 105670 Percent Resin Acid Reduction 97%
~ .
lF~A~id ~alYsis Or tre~ed and un~nted Qfll~çnt fr~m r~n 1~
Fatty Acid Treated Efl~uentUnheatedEflElue3llt Palmitic Acid 24 450 Oleic Acid 66 1780 LinoleicAcid 127 2780 ~ :~
IinoleI~ic Acid 10 337 Totals 227 5350 Percent Fat~ Acid Reduction 9S.8~

Table 9 provides the results of the resin acid analysis of the treated and un~reated ef~uent ~om run 2-6 and demoIIstrates a percent resini aciid reduction of 9605~o.

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Table 9 Resin Acid Anal~ysis of treiated and lmtre~te~l e~luent ~rom r~la 2-6 ~esin A~idTreated EmuentUnt~atedEi~iue~t S Pirnaric Acid 98 3620 Sandaracopimaric 245 7590 Neoabietic 339 12æO
Dehydroabietic6B2 9710 Abietic 1740 40130 Palustric 38~ 19480 Isopimaric 438 18130 Totals 3930 110880 Percent Resin Acid Reduction 96.5%

Table 10 shows the corresponding fatty acid ianalysis, from run 2-6, which demonstrates a 92% reduction ~n the treated effluellt according to the present invention.
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Table lO
Fatbt Acid Analysis of ~a~d ~nd ~ntr~t~.~luent f~om run 2-6 Fat~ AcidTre~ted Ef~luent Unt~eat~ E~uent Palmitic Acid 34 470 Oleic Acid 108 1540 Iinoleic Ac~d 200 2780 Linoleric Acid 22 300 Totals 3~ 5090 Percent Fat~ Acid Reduction 92.8~

Table 11 shows the res~n acid analysis of the untreated and treated eilluent from run 2-8 demoIIstrating a 97.9% reduction of total resin acids.
15The co~responding fatty acid analysis from this sample is sh~wn in Table 12, wherein the percentage of fa~ty acis1 reduction was 97~.

-rrable 11 R~in~Acid Analysi$ ~f tre~ nd untreatçd e~fluçnt 20i~om r~n 2~
Resin Acid'l'reated l~luent Untr~ted Emuent PimaricAcid 18 3620 Sandaracopimanc 130 7590 Neoabietic 260 12æo Dehydroabietic 371 9710 :
Abietic 888 40130 Palustric 386 19480 Isopimaric 249 18130 Totals 2340 110880 Percent Resin Acid Reduction 97.9%

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T~b!e 12 F~t~ Acid AnallY~is of ~rea~ed and ~lntre~ed emuen~
~rom run 2-8 S lFat~ Acid Treated E~fluent Un~at~ El~l~t Palmitic Acid 13 470 Oleic Acid 37 1540 Iinoleic Acid 96 2780 Linolenic Acid 12 300 Totals 158 5090 Percent Fatty Acid Reduction 97%

Ex~mple 4 The eflluent for this sample was the total mill effluent taken from Canexel and the sample was treated according to the pilot plant, discussed above and depicted in ~igure 1. In this example, alginate at a concentration of 50 pprn was first added to the ef~uent after which polyamine was added at a rate of 300 ppm followed by polyacrylamide at a rate of 47 ppm. This dosage is considered to be a full dose and was used ~or the analysis in sample 2 and 3 shown in Table 13, which follows. A number modifications of the concentration of chemicals used in the treatment of the Canexel mill ef~luent were also performed. The modifications are as follows. In sample 4, no 2S polyac~ylamide was added. Sample 5 was treated with 50% dose nf the acidffled sodium al~inate, i.e. 25 ppm instead of the 50 ppm. Sample 7 was not treated with any al~ate and was trea~d with a 50% reduction in the polyacrylamide. In sample 8, a 50% reduction oî algin~te was used. Th;s sample therefore is similar to sample 5 noted above. Sample 9 used a 50%
reduction in alginate a~d in poly~ne.

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The results shou~ in Table 13 provide the amount of org~ic materiial in the form of BOD (Biological O~ygen Demand), COD (Chemicial ~ygen Dema~d), DS (Dissolved Solids), SS (Suspended Solids), and TS
(To~ial Solids) and turbidity of ian untreated sample in comparison with the sample treatments as described above. It is clear ~om Table 13 that a full dose treatment of the compounds (alginate 50 ppm; polyamine 300 ppm; and polyacrylamide 47 ppm), as shown in sample 2 and 3, provides ~or a 55-61%
reduction in BOD as compared to the untreated sample. These results also are interesting in that sample 7, which does not contain any alginate iand only the cationic polymers, shows 35% re:moval of BOD demonstrating an improvement when alginate is used in a pretre~tment step.

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..... ~9 The results, of the analysis of resi~ acids and fatty acid, with sample 9, which uses a 50% dose of the alginate ~i.e. 25 ppm) and a 50~o dose of the polyamine (i.e. 150 ppm), are shown in Tables 14 and 15, respectively. The results are comparable with those discussed previously, wherein the resin acid S is reduced by 98.4~o and the fatty acid is reducçd by 93.7%.
T~ble 14 Resin A~id An~lysis ~f~ ~r~ç~ ~n~l ~n~re~ted e~lu~nt ~-Ç~
l~e~in~cidll~ated l~ uent U~treat~lE:~luent Pimaric AcidLess than 0.5 12 ~andaracopimaric0.5 7.3 Neoabietic Less ~han 0.5 9.3 Dehydroabietic 5.1 266 Abietic 2.0 240 Palustric Less than 0.5 I~i~banO5 Isopimaric 1.6 125 Totals 10.7 660.1 Percent Resin Acid Reduction 98.4%

~ble 15 F~tty'~ A.nalysi$ ~ treated ~ n~reaç~1 e!i~lue ~rom C~ l Mill F~t~cid Treated E~luent Untre&~ E~lu~t Palmitic Acid 20 208 Oleic Acid 44 626 Iinoleic Acid 27 550 I~nolenic AciidLess than 0.5 73 Totals 91.5 1457 Percent Fatty Acid Reduction 93.7%

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Ihe sample for this example was taken from the ef~uent from Irving Paper Ltd. The sample was treated with the following ehemicals~
polyacrylamide, 10 ppm; polyamine, 5 ppm and gelatin 5 ppm. The results j, are shown below ~n Table 16.

Table 16 AnalQ~is of tre~ted and untreated s~mple Ulltreated Treated % R~
Suspended Solids (SS) 83.7 9 89 . .
BC)D 250 120 ~2 Dissolved Solids ~DS) 657 607 7.7 -Total Solids (TS) 717 ~06 15.S

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In this example the sample was taken from the Bowaters Mersey Paper Co. The sample was treated as follows: polyacrylamide, 20 ppm and gelatin, 10 ppm. The results are showIl below in Table 17.
Tabl~ ~7 ntre.ated ~
Ulltreated Treated % Redllction ~ .
SS 186 3~ ~0 BOD 550 130 76.4 Example Z
~ this example the sample was tal~en from the Stora Forest Indus~ies. The sample was treated as foll~ws: polyacrylamide, 15 ppm;
polyi~ine, 1S ppm andl gelati~, 10 ppm. The results ia~e shown below in :
Table 18.

2 1 2 7 ~ ~ 7 Table 18 Anal~ ~ treated and untreated sample IJnt~eated l~eatedl % Reduction SS ~7 10 90 TS 2073 808.5 39 3[t is understood that the invention has been disclosed berein in connection with certain examples and embodiments. However, such changes, modifications or equivalents as can be used by those skilled in the art are intended to be ~cluded. Accordingly, the disclosure is to be const ued as exemplary, rather than limiting, and sueh changes within the principle of the illvention as are obvious to one skilled in the art a~e intended to be included with the scope of the claims.

Claims (20)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A composition for treating resin acids and fatty acids containing effluent comprising:
a) an anionic material selected from the group consisting of gelatin, albumin, and alginate in a metallic salt form or acid form thereof;
and b) a cationic polymer.

2. A composition according to Claim 1, wherein the anionic material is an alginate.

3. A composition according to Claim 2, wherein the alginate is a sodium alginate.

4. A composition according to Claim 3, wherein the alginate is an acidified sodium alginate.

5. A composition according to Claim 4, wherein the sodium alginate is acidified by the addition of sulphuric acid.

6. A composition according to Claim 5, wherein the cationic polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyamines, polyacrylamides, acrylamide copolymers, diallyl dimethylammonium chloride, and cationic condensate polymers.

7. A composition according to Claim 61 wherein the sodium alginate is present in a range from 4 ppm to 250 ppm.

8. A composition according to Claim 7, wherein the cationic polymer is polyacrylamide and is present in the composition from 5 ppm to 75 ppm.

9. A composition according to Claim 8, wherein the cationic polymer further comprises polyamine present at a concentration from 10 ppm to 300 ppm.

10. A process for removing resin acids and fatty acids from pulp and paper effluent comprising first adding to the effluent a sufficient amount of an anionic material selected from the group consisting of gelatin, albumin and alginate to complex said resin acids and fatty acids; then adding a sufficient amount of a cationic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamines, polyacrylamides, acrylamide copolymers, diallyl dimethylammonium chloride, and cationic condensate polymers to coagulate the complexed anionic material, fatty acids and resin acids in the effluent;
and removing the coagulated resin acids and fatty acids from a clarified effluent.

11. A process according to Claim 10, wherein the anionic material is an alginate.

12. A process according to Claim 11, wherein the alginate is a sodium alginate.

13. A process of Claim 12, wherein a sufficient amount of acid is added to the alginate to improve the affinity of the alginate for the resin acid and fatty acid.

14. A process according to Claim 13, wherein the acid is sulphuric acid.

15. A process according to Claim 14, wherein the sodium alginate is present in a range from 4 ppm to 250 ppm.

16. A process according to Claim 15, wherein the cationic polymer is polyacrylamide and is present in the composition from 5 ppm to 75 ppm.

17. A process according to Claim 16, wherein the cationic polymer is a polyamine present at a concentration from 10 ppm to 300 ppm.

18. A process of Claim 17 wherein said cationic polymer comprises a first and second cationic polymer, wherein said first cationic polymer is a polyamine and said second cationic polymer is a polyacrylamine.

19. A process for removing resin acids and fatty acids from pulp and paper effluent comprising first adding to the effluent from 4 ppm to 250 ppm of sodium alginate, wherein a sufficient amount of acid is added to said alginate to improve the affinity of the alginate for the resin acid and fatty acid, for a minimum contact time of 20 seconds to complex the resin acids and fatty acids; then adding from 5 ppm to 300 ppm of a cationic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamines, polyacrylamides, acrylamide copolymers, diallyl dimethylammonium chloride, and cationic condensate polymers to coagulate the alginate/resin acids and fatty acids complex, thus reducing the fatty acid and resin acid concentration in the effluent and removing the coagulated resin acids and fatty acids from a clarified effluent.

20. A process of Claim 19 wherein said cationic polymer comprises a first and second cationic polymer, wherein said first cationic polymer is a polyamine and said second cationic polymer is a polyacrylamine.