AN INNOVATIVE MEMBRANE AND MEMBRANE PROCESS FOR IN-PROCESS RECYCLING OF CHROMIUM METAL WITHIN CHROME-ELECTROPLATING OPERATIONS

In the chrome-electroplating industry, rinsing of finished products generatestoxic wastewater containing chromium metal. These waste-waters present asignificant disposal problem and a loss of valuable raw material in the form ofchromium, a predominantly imported metal. Coupled transport membranes are apotential method of separating and recovering the chromium, but their use hasbeen restricted due to their instability Membrane Technology and Research proposeand innovative membrane structure designed to overcome this problem. If thePhase I work demonstrates the feasibility of their approach, they will developa chromium recovery process based on these improved coupled transport membranes.The membranes will separate the chromium metals from the rinsewater for recycleto the plating bath, and produce a water stream that is recycled to the rinsebath. The overall process produces no secondary wastes and will allow completein-process recycling of all components in the waste stream.