PRAB > News & Knowledge > Automotive/Transportation Industry > Application Review: Chrome Plating Process Achieves Cost Reduction Through Zero Liquid Discharge

Chrome Plating Process Achieves Cost Reduction Through Zero Liquid Discharge

CHALLENGE

A global manufacturer of automotive components faced rising waste-disposal costs from a chrome-plating process at a plant in Poland. The plant manufactures shock absorbers for passenger vehicles. The plating of the shocks adds corrosion resistance, increases surface hardness, and improves cleaning ability and overall appearance.

INDUSTRY

Automotive Manufacturing

PRODUCTS UTILIZED

Evaled® Heat Pump Evaporator

 

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Project Goals:

1) Reduce waste disposal costs
2) Reuse the chromium oxide back in the working bath
3) Provide materials of construction (MOC) suitable to handle aggressive chromic acid without corrosion issues

Process Diagram

Plant Process Diagram for Chrome Plating Process

Plant Analysis

Parameters
Unit
Waste In
Distillate Out
Concentrate Out
Iron
mg/L
150-200
<0.1
–
Condutivity
μS/cm
<25000
<200
–
TS at 105° C
%
1
–
pH
1-2
3.6
–
Density
g/mL
1.006
–
1.5
Cr6+
g/L
3.5 – 5
<0.02
30

 

Technology Type
Material
Footprint (ft2)
PC Forced Circulation E 6000 KT
Heat exchanger: Silicon carbide and PVDF Boiling vessel and other wetted parts: Austenitic stainless steel coated with ECTFE
88.26

 

Results

Evaled Installed in Chrome Plating Process

Pay-Back
About 1 Year
Distillate Recovered
~ 90%
Concentration Factor
~ 10x

 

  • Complete Zero Liquid Discharge, wastewater reduction 100%
  • Concentrate recycled to the chromium bath (Bath concentration adjusted by adding either chromic anhydride or demineralized water)
  • Galvanic line OPEX reduction

Resulting Zero Liquid Discharge Process