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NICKEL RECOVERY FROM ELECTROPLATING RINSEWATERS BY ELECTRODIALYSIS
Citation:
Eisenmann, J. NICKEL RECOVERY FROM ELECTROPLATING RINSEWATERS BY ELECTRODIALYSIS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-81/130 (NTIS PB81227209), 1981.
Description:
A program to demonstrate the feasibility of metal salt recovery and pollution control on a Watts-type nickel plating line by electrodialysis was conducted. Each of two reclaim rinse tanks, arranged in series following plate tanks, was treated by recirculating the rinse solutions through separate electrodialysis stacks. The first rinse solution was maintained at 2-5 g/1 nickel and the second rinse held at 0.3-0.4 g/1 nickel over several months of plating operations. The nickel salts recovered from the rinse solutions were concentrated 20-fold by the electrodialysis treatment and could be returned directly to the plate tanks for reuse. Several operational problems are discussed and recommendations made. It is concluded that electrodialysis can be a useful and economically viable process for the treatment of at least some types of electroplating rinses. Both plating-metal recovery and pollution control are accomplished. A cost estimate based on the data obtained during the demonstration indicates that 95% of the nickel lost from untreated rinses could be recovered and that ancillary benefits in sludge disposal, use of treatment chemicals, etc. could be realized. Payback periods of less than 18 months are anticipated for commercial units.