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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Chelating agents from plating & photo processes

I need to know what chelating agents may be present in copper plating processes using "Cuflex" additives, nickel sulfamate plating, and in rinse waters from photo processing. We have added a black & white rapid access developing machine to our process and the waste water is going into my zero discharge treatment & evaporator system. I am having some problems, but I'm not sure how to describe them or where to begin looking for solutions.

Rick Alexander
engravers - Gaffney, South Carolina
1999

You do not say what type of zero discharge system you are running. If it is an ion exchange system, or a reverse osmosis system, running developers from photo processes will cause severe problems because of organic fouling. It may be necessary to change the resin or membrane. This waste is best treated separately with an oxidative batch treatment, like peroxide/ferrous ion or chlorine dioxide.

Dave Wichern
Consultant - The Bronx, New York
1999

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