Grantee Research Project Results
Conversion of Hazardous Chromium Plating Sludge Into Aluminothermic Chromium Metal
EPA Contract Number: 68D50098Title: Conversion of Hazardous Chromium Plating Sludge Into Aluminothermic Chromium Metal
Investigators: Whelan, Edward P.
Small Business: Climax Research Services
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through March 1, 1996
Project Amount: $65,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Waste , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Chromium plating sludge waste from hard and decorative chromium plating operations is classified as a hazardous waste and its disposal is a major environmental concern. Climax Research Services (CRS) will develop techniques to recycle the chromium metal values in the sludge back into the domestic metallurgical industry as purified aluminothermic chromium metal. This proposal addresses initially the hydrometallurgical treatment of chromium plating sludge to remove unacceptable impurity elements. Using fractional crystallization of chromium sulfate followed by calcination, a purified chromic oxide will be produced from the sludge. Pre-proposal work by CRS has demonstrated the technical validity of this approach. The chromic oxide will then be transformed by aluminothermic reaction into commercially-viable pure aluminothermic chromium metal, using procedures developed in a previous EPA research contract. Aluminothermic chromium metal sales will be directed at the national non-ferrous foundry industry. This transformation of an environmentally harmful, hazardous, sludge into an environmentally acceptable industrial product is technically feasible and commercially attractive. It responds directly to EPA concerns for hazardous waste disposal.Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, engineering, chemistry., Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Hazardous, Environmental Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry and Materials Science, Hazardous Waste, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Engineering, hazardous sludge, waste minimization, chromic oxide, hazardous waste disposal, industrial waste, pollution prevention, hazardous substance disposal, green technology, electroplating, metal recovery , chromium recycling, aluminothermic chromium metal, hydrometallurgical treatment, waste reduction, conversion of chromium plating sludge, innovative technology, non-ferrous foundry industry, hazardous chemicals, hazardous liquid waste, hazardous waste recycling, sludge, chromium plating sludgeProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.