BLEACHED KRAFT PULP-MILL SOURCED ORGANIC-CHEMICALS IN SEDIMENTS FROM A NEW-ZEALAND RIVER .2. TARAWERA RIVER

The concentrations of resin acids, chlorophenolic compounds and resin acid derived neutral compounds (fichtelite, dehydroabietin, tetrahydro retene and retene) were measured in river sediments above and below th e effluent discharges of two New Zealand pulp and paper mills. The two mills, a sulphonated chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP) and tissue mil l, and an integrated kraft and mechanical pulp and paper mill, dischar ge secondary treated effluent into the Tarawera River in New Zealand. No significant concentrations of pulp and paper mill sourced organic c ompounds were found at background sites. Below the CTMP mill slight in creases in the concentrations of the resin acids and resin add derived neutral comport,tds were measured. Elevated concentrations of all thr ee compound classes were observed downstream of the second pulp and pa per mill. Total concentrations of chlorophenolic compounds and resin a cids in the river sediments from below the second mill effluent discha rge reached to 17.0 ng g(-1) and 23.1 mu g g(-1) dry weight respective ly. Still higher concentrations of chlorophenolic compounds and resin acids, 58.7 ng g(-1) and 94.5 mu g g(-1) respectively, were present in sediments from a downstream estuarine lagoon which was previously par t of the river system. The organic carbon content in sediments was a p rinciple constituent governing the concentrations of pulp and paper mi ll derived compounds in the New Zealand receiving water systems. Copyr ight (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd