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How to handle emissions while chroming

I would like to know if anyone knows what type of EPA Regulations are associated with Chroming automobile wheels? Are there specific ways to dispose of the waste/emissions?

Sincerely,

Wallace Isom
hobbyist - Wichita, KS, US
2005

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First of two simultaneous responses --

You trap the fumes/mist with a centrifuical seperator followed by a fume scrubber. You can filter the liquid from the seperator and return it to your tank. The water from the scrubber has to go to your waste water treatment unit. In the US, you have to have a stack test and be certified before you can put it in use. Around $5,000 if it passes the first time. 10 years ago, you might have been able to find the service for $2,000, but that was rare.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2005

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

That's the subject of a very large book. Start reading at 40CFR260 in the Federal Register. Then read the Clean Water Act, the sewer use regulations in your city, the Hazardous Waste Reglations in your state, OSHA regulations at 40CFR29. Ask more questions when you have finished that.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2005

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2005

Hi Wallace,

Re the airborne emissions, well, obviously one uses a scrubber.

An inertial blade type eliminator (horizontal airflow) using the correct blades (T-100) at the right spacing (20 mm) and two banks of them, will capture all the emissions but not quite to EPA specs. In B.C. in the 80's, it bettered the emission standards for chrome by 30 times but that's only 0.700 mg/M3 versus the onerous EPA specs which then were 0.050.

The big advantage of the eliminator, if correctly made, is that it will/should pay for itself in two years BECAUSE it captures the vast majority of the emissions which can be returned for re-use ... and although some water is used to wash down the blades occasionally, this will be less than drag out and evaporative losses.

To meet EPA specs, you'd have to scrub these emissions from the eliminator BUT obviously they will be vastly reduced hence initial and running costs will be far less.

I used to call my inertial chrome scrubbers the S-LMITS.

Scrubbers can take many forms. Inertially, such as the S-LMITS or conventional mass transfer design.

I think that you may be taking on more than you can chew!

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).