Electroplating is a method of applying a thin layer of metal onto a prepared metal surface by utilizing electric current. The procedure includes the cleansing and pre-treatment of a metal surface using potent acids and surface-stripping chemicals, such as caustic soda and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The process additionally includes various harmful and toxic substances, such as cyanides. Consequently, the vapors that are a result of electroplating often contain elevated levels of volatile organic and metal compounds; the mix of cyanide and acidic wastewater produces hydrogen cyanide gas, which is lethal. Electroplating air emissions often contain high levels of trichloroethylene and trichloroethane.
Proper air treatment and pollution control are essential to avoid dangerous chemical reactions that may occur, also to prevent air and water pollution. The air treatment procedures serve two main objectives:
- Protect the working environment;
- Reduce harmful gas emissions into the atmosphere.
The first objective is relatively easy to complete and requires less sophisticated solutions. Exhaust hoods and good ventilation systems are enough to dispose of harmful gases and vapors, protect the working environment, and prevent the generation of lethal gases. However, the exhaust streams must be treated to reduce the amount of volatile organic compounds in them.
The second objective requires the use of air scrubbers. They provide high treatment quality and effectively scrub polluted air. Wet air scrubbers are more appropriate for electroplating since exhaust gases may contain acid mists.
Due to environmental guidelines, the treatment quality of polluted air must be 90% or higher. This efficiency is achieved by employing wet air scrubbers, the majority of which possess a high air treatment quality typically exceeding 90%
Scroiler™ — a new type of wet air scrubber — is already used during electroplating processes. Several Scroiler™s are already installed over the electroplating baths to absorb Chromium compounds and NaOH vapors. The treatment quality is higher than 99.9% both on Chromium compounds and NaOH vapors.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Scroiler™ please contact us at info@optromix.com.