Treatment of Plating Wastewaters by Ferrous Reduction, Sulfide Precipitation, Coagulation & Upflow Filtration.

Abstract

Current practice in treatment of mixed metal wastewaters containing hexavalent chromium consists of acidic (pH approx. 3) chromium reduction followed by alkaline, metal-hydroxide precipitation; a two-stage process. A single-stage process could reduce capital and operation costs. Synthetic chromium, cadmium, and nickel wastewaters were successfully treated by ferrous sulfate and sodium sulfide in a single cell reactor at alkaline pH (7-10), thus clarifying conflicting reports in the literature. Batch tests were performed to study this process. Solids were removed by membrane filtration. Metal residuals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Chromium was rapidly and stoichiometrically reduced by ferrous sulfate. Sodium sulfide by itself negligibly reduced chromium, and was no better than hydroxide in precipitating cadmium and nickel. However, in combination with ferrous sulfate, sulfide improved chromium reduction and metal removal. Alkalinity, EDTA and cyanide interfered with chromium reduction and metal removal; calcium hardness counteracted these interferences. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA102066

Entities

People

  • Thomas E. Higgins

Organizations

  • Arizona State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Chemistry
  • Compound Semiconductors
  • Control Systems
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Environmental Protection
  • Flow Rate
  • Heavy Metals
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Metals
  • Pilot Plants
  • Precipitation
  • Sodium Compounds
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Sulfur Compounds

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Surface Engineering/Surface Coating Technology.