Effluent Treatment of Electroplating Unit

Abstract

The Electroplating industry is one of the top polluting industries. The effluents discharged have high concentrations of toxic heavy metal ions. Our project is an effort to reduce the toxicity of the effluent discharged from an electroplating unit. The project aims to reduce heavy metal ion concentrations in the effluent discharged by employing a combined effect of precipitation and adsorption. These methods have been successfully applied and tested by us on a laboratory level and can be easily adapted at an industrial level economically. The project suggests other more sophisticated and new methods of treating effluent from an electroplating unit. We have analyzed our method of treatment from all angles and also recommended solutions to rectify its minor short comings. The report includes an adsorption bed prototype which can be used on a bigger or industrial scale. This method of treatment is simple, effective, practical and most importantly cost effective.

Keywords: Electroplating Effluent, Precipitation Method, Adsorption, Heavy metal ions

JEL Classification: Q53