Optimization of the Ferrous Chloride (FeCl2) and Compliance MX Treatment Chemistries in Managing Chelated Industrial Waste Streams

With growing regulatory concern over the release of waterborne industrial pollutants, the US Environmental Protection Agency has identified metal finishing as an industrial operation whose pollutant discharge poses a significant threat to public health and the environment. Currently, the US Department of Defense (DoD) weapon system operations rely on metal hydroxide precipitation to treat metal finishing wastewaters. While somewhat effective, the growing chemical complexity of materials used in DoD weapon system maintenance operations has expanded the presence and concentration of chelating substances associated with these wastewaters. To negate the effects of chelators on metal hydroxide treatment, DoD maintenance facilities have few options available other than chemical oxidation and/or flow segregation. Unfortunately, application of chemical oxidizing agents can be prohibitively expensive and increases the health risks to DoD facility personnel. Similarly, the costs associated with segregating chelator affected flows can be exorbitant. Recently, ferrous chloride application has been demonstrated to be effective at the Hill AFB Industrial Waste Treatment Plant (IWTP) in treating industrial wastewater commingled with chelators. The objective of the current SBIR study is to evaluate the ability of ferrous chloride to effectively treat a wide range of chelating solutions currently associated with weapon system maintenance activities.