[p2tech] Waste water treatment

Depending on the process (hopefully copper plating?), reverse osmosis
(R/0) could be considered in-process recycle or P2 at it's best.  

Most nickel plating ops are now going to this tech to separate nickel
from their (de-ionized water) rinses and returning it to the plating
bath with the permeate (clean water) back to their process rinse tanks
for make up.  No discharge of Ni and re-use of water = P2, yes?

I'm fairly certain, R/O could also be applied to copper plating rinses
and baths depending on the exact process.  Much more info needs to be
obtained.

Ion exchange (I/E) is another treatment tech your facility may want to
look at although it is not an on-site "in process recycle" technique.
The I/E containers have to be sent off-site for reclamation of the metal
captured.  Clean water from the I/E containers can also be used as
make-up water.

More information would be required about your situation to determine the
most economical/efficient treatment or possible recycle system.  Range
of copper concentration, O&G levels, surfactants, pH, TDS in the raw
wastewater and average volume to be treated.

With copper at its current market value, I would think your company
might want to consider recycling this back into their process rather
than using simple chemical precipitation, simply treating copper down to
acceptable levels, discharging it and then still having to deal with the
sludge generated in the (chemically [anionic/cationic polymers & floc]
assisted) clarifier -> sludge press -> evaporator.

Just a knee jerk answer to give you some more questions to ask.  And,
I'm sure you'll get numerous other answers to your query.

Allen Gilliam
ADEQ State Pretreatment Coordinator
501.682.0625
 
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-p2tech at great-lakes.net [mailto:owner-p2tech at great-lakes.net]
On Behalf Of michelle gaither
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 2:35 PM
To: p2tech
Subject: Waste water treatment

I know this is end of pipe treatment, but if you can bear with the
question - and consider the P2 angle of determining which treatment
method has lower environmental impact.....  

I am looking for studies or case example/comparisons of treating
wastewater on site using evaporation vs. another treatment method, e.g.,
electrocoagulation.   
I am trying to determine if evaporation is the best option (which is of
course, a major energy consuming process).

This wastewater contains copper.

Thanks.
Michelle Gaither 
1402 Third Ave, Suite 1420 | Seattle, WA 98101
T 206.352.2050 | F 206.352.2049| www.pprc.org 
Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
practical solutions for economic and environmental vitality