Alternative Treatment Of Organic Solvents And Sludges From Metal Finishing Operations

"From the Foreword: " This book presents the results of a waste audit study for the metal finishing industry. The study, carried out for the State of California but applicable for metal finishers elsewhere, identifies opportunities for waste reduction available to the metal finishing industry and develops procedures that can be used by metal finishers to assess their own waste reduction opportunities. The study emphasizes technologies available to small- and medium-sized metal finishing plants. Typically, these shops operate a variety of physical, chemical, and electrochemical processes. Chemical processes include degreasing, cleaning, pickling, etching, coating, and electroless plating. Electrochemical processes include plating and anodizing. The tasks included in the study were: (1) selecting metal finishing plants to include in the study, (2) performing a waste audit at each selected plant, (3) developing recommendations for implementing waste reduction technologies at each audited plant, (4) discussing with facility representatives the feasibility of implementing the waste reduction recommendations, and (5) developing this waste audit study report and methodology. The study identifies three categories of waste reduction technologies that are available to metal finishers: (1) source reduction, (2) recycling and resource recovery, and (3) alternative treatment. The costs associated with implementing these technologies range from a few hundred dollars for making simple improvements in housekeepiing and minor process modifications to tens of thousands of dollars for installing recovery or treatment units. The benefits realized from implementing such improvements include reductions inmaterial purchase and waste disposal costs, as well as reduction in the liability

This book, designed to assist industrial engineers and managers in making changes in purchasing, manufacturing, and waste handling practices to reduce the costs and liabilities of waste disposal, begins by defining waste minimization in the first two chapters. A description of the economic and regulatory incentives a company has for setting up a waste minimization program follows, and unsuccessful projects are related. Based on these experiences, a method is outlined for companies to use to establish a waste minimization program and implement individual projects.

The Pollution Prevention Handbook provides the necessary tools to set up a successful pollution program; implement specific projects to meet environmental regulation, and improve efficiency and product quality. Methods used to reduce waste generation are illustrated, and new treatment methods to reduce the volume or toxicity of waste are described. Practical examples illustrate key concepts, and numerous case studies provide successful programs found in the real world. The text is divided into three major sections:

Describes cleaner technologies that can be used to reduce waste and emissions from metal finishing operations. Identifies potentially viable clean technologies that can reduce waste and emissions by modifying the metal finishing process. Provides resources for obtaining more detailed engineering and economic information about these technologies. Addresses available technologies, emerging technologies and pollution prevention strategies. List of information sources. Drawings, charts and figures.