Alkaline Noncyanide Zinc Plating with Reuse of Recovered Chemicals

Peden, Jacqueline M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/2036 Copy

Description

Title

Alkaline Noncyanide Zinc Plating with Reuse of Recovered Chemicals

Author(s)

Peden, Jacqueline M.

Contributor(s)

• Illinois. Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center (IENR DENR ENR HWRIC)
• United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Waste Reduction Innovative Technology Evaluation (USEPA EPA WRITE)

Issue Date

1994

Keyword(s)

• Waste minimization -- Illinois
• Pollution -- Illinois
• Recycling (Waste, etc.) -- Illinois
• Source reduction (Waste management)
• Plating industry -- Waste minimization -- Illinois
• Zinc plating -- Recycling
• Factory and trade waste -- Recycling
• Recycle operations (Chemical technology)

Abstract

A metal finishing process can create environmental problems because it uses chemicals that are not only toxic but also resistant to degradation or decomposition. A study was undertaken at a zinc electroplating operation to achieve zero discharge of wastewater and total recycle of recovered precipitates. The fIrst step in this project was to change an existing zinc cyanide (CN) plating line to one that used an alkaline noncyanide (ANC) zinc bath. The project then investigated a closed-loop system to treat plating rinsewater from the ANC zinc plating line so the plating chemicals were recovered and the water purified. The goal was to return both the recovered zinc hydroxide and the clean water to the plating line for continued use. The system that was designed and installed, at P&H Plating Co., a Chicago area operation, used precipitation by pH adjustment to remove the zinc from the rinsewater. The precipitated zinc hydroxide was collected on filters, dewatered using a filter press, and stored for reuse in the plating line as needed. Once filtered, the water was recirculated to the rinsing portion of the plating line. The recovery/recycle system successfully purified the rinsewater and facilitated the recycling of the cleaned water and the precipitated zinc hydroxide. Eliminating cyanide from the plating process meant the line workers were dealing with a less toxic plating bath, made compliance with regulations easier, and reduced treatment and disposal costs for the company. The recycling of the recovered water and the zinc hydroxide further reduced the costs for treatment and disposal. The replacement of this single CN line with an ANC line resulted in an annual savings of 14,000 dollars to P&H Plating by eliminating pretreatment of the plating line rinsewater to oxidize cyanide. The addition of the recovery/recycle system increased the company's savings to 622,000 dollars/year. The reuse of 30% of the recovered zinc hydroxide and 70% of the treated rinsewater reduced annual water usage and wastewater discharge by 841,911 gallons and reduced the amount of sludge disposed annually by 14 cubic yards. The payback period for the recovery/recycle system is slightly less than 18 months. Installation and use of this system for other ANC plating operations would result in reductions in wastes and increased economic benefits similar to those experienced by P&H Plating Co.

Publisher

Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center

Series/Report Name or Number

TR Series (Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center) ; 021

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/2036

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