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Zero discharge system for Acid Zinc and Nickel Chrome

Is there a wastewater system that is totally a zero discharge system that as been proven to work. Our company is just setting up a couple of new plating lines. I have done a lot of research and can not come up with a system that I feel will work with out a lot of maintenance cost and be able to keep up with our flow rates.

John Buschur
Plating Manager - Fort Recovery, Ohio, US
September 28, 2011

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Hi, John.

We discuss technical approaches rather than brands here, but zero discharge (i.e., no sewer or stream connection) is possible, and easier to do for rack plating than barrel plating. Respectfully I would suggest that "with our flow rates" is putting things backwards though. You can't consider zero discharge as an end-of-pipe thing, but as a philosophy to be employed in looking at every step and every tiny detail. For example, 4 rinses after a cleaner may sound excessive, but you'll probably find the cost of 4 rinses, including their impact on production, a less expensive approach than implementing zero discharge with 2 rinse stages.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 27, 2011