Statistical methods as indicator of offset printing wastewater quality

This study presents the application of different chemometric approaches on the dataset obtained during the monitoring of offset printing wastewater quality in Pozarevac, Serbia. Collecting of wastewaters was performed during a working week, five working days, in five offset printing facilities. Twenty five physico-chemical parameters were analyzed in wastewaters using the standard analytical and instrumental methods. The obtained dataset were subjected to cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Cluster analysis showed four groups of similarity between the printing facilities reflecting the different physico-chemical characteristics and pollution levels of studied wastewaters. Principal component analysis identified two principal components responsible for the data structure explaining 86 % of total variance of offset printing wastewaters. The obtained principal components indicate the parameters that are the most responsible for variation of offset printing wastewaters. This study clearly demonstrates the usefulness of chemometric methods in analysis of printing wastewater quality, identification of the main sources and understanding of spatial variations in wastewater quality. Also, it could be useful for the selection of an appropriate wastewater treatment plant.