Proposal of Water Purification Technologies for contaminated water from the Pulp and Paper Industry Company, Lake Toba region of North Sumatra, Indonesia

Dagmar Václavíková

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Lake Toba and its outflow the Asahan river are located in the region of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Over the last few decades, the quality of the local environment, including water sources, has been very badly affected since Indonesia is one of the world’s largest pulp and paper producers, which generates both an environmental and a social burden. The main cause of pollution is attributed to a pulp and paper factory, now called Toba Pulp Lestari. This bachelor’s thesis addresses this controversial pulp mill, which is a major source of water and air pollution that has been causing several illnesses in the local indigenous population and nearby communities, as well as serious degradation of the environment. The area most affected by pollution is located near the mill and its waste dumping location, where several people living close to the factory experience symptoms and health problems such as skin redness, respiratory issues, and eye irritation, among others. Therefore, the main target of this bachelor’s thesis was to design appropriate technologies and strategies for purification of wastewater from the pulp mill. Improvements were proposed for each stage of wastewater treatment: primary (application of flotation) and secondary treatment (addition of returned sludge device). In addition, a tertiary wastewater treatment section was newly designed in the form of membrane filtration technologies and an ozone device. This should prevent the release of contaminated water from the factory into the environment, which would improve the quality of life for the population residing in the region, together with preserving the natural environment.

Keywords

Wastewater treatment, Pulp and paper industry, Environmental/community impacts, Conventional wastewater treatment, Membrane filtration, Ozonation

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 5. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Vladimír Krepl, CSc.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / International Cooperation in Agriculture and Rural Development