Transport of high molecular mass lignin material in the receiving water system of a mechanical pulp mill

High molecular mass material (HMM) of water samples collected from the receiving water system of a mechanical pulp mill was characterized applying cupric oxide oxidation combined with GC and HPLC analysis of the oxidation products. This qualitative method was used to follow the transport of organic HMM discharged by the mill. The interpretation of results was complicated by degradation reactions of HMM in the water system and the assimilation of HMM produced by the mill to natural humic compounds. The analytical data was subjected to the principal component analysis (PCA) to verify the results obtained.