The use of a strong alkali source, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), during hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) bleaching of mechanical pulps is responsible for the solubilization of some wood components. Yet, this dissolved organic matter (DOM) induces a high value of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the bleaching effluents. In addition, a fraction of this organic matter, called recalcitrant COD (R-COD), is not biodegradable in industrial wastewater treatment plants. This study has proven that it was possible to reach the brightness target of 75% ISO during a one stage peroxide bleaching of spruce TMP when NaOH was partially substituted by magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) or magnesium carbonate (MgCO3). Meanwhile, hydrogen peroxide consumption decreased significantly during Mg(OH)2- and MgCO3-based bleachings. COD has been reduced by 26 and 31%, respectively, during alternative bleachings in comparison with the conventional one. Furthermore, only 10 and 8 kg O2.t-1 R-COD were generated during Mg(OH)2- and MgCO3-based processes respectively against 13.3 kg O2.t-1 during the conventional process. DOM analysis by size exclusion chromatography coupled with UV absorbance, fluorescence and dissolved organic carbon (HPSEC/UVA-Fluo-DOC) has shown that the MOD in conventional and alternative bleaching effluents were characterized by the same molecular weights. This work has also pointed out that alternative bleachings with magnesium-based alkali sources affected bleached pulp strength properties. A reduction up to 10% of the tensile index was measured compared to the conventional bleached pulp. Otherwise, the brightness reversion of alternative bleached pulps decreased by 2% ISO during photo-ageing under UV irradiation. Structural analysis of lignin enabled us to understand reaction mechanisms brought into play during alternative bleaching. In the case of a chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP maple), it is feasible to completely replace NaOH by different alternative alkali but at the expense of the strength properties of the bleached pulp (-25 and 16 % on tensile and tear indexes).
