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The Recovery of Pure Chromium Metal From Hazardous Plating Sludge

EPA Contract Number: 68D99039
Title: The Recovery of Pure Chromium Metal From Hazardous Plating Sludge
Investigators: Whelan, Edward P.
Small Business: Climax Research Services
EPA Contact: Manager, SBIR Program
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1999 through March 1, 2000
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1998)
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Hazardous and Solid Waste

Description:

Chromium-containing sludge waste from electrolytic chromium plating, leather tanning, and wood preservation operations is classified as a hazardous waste. Its disposal is a major environmental concern. In Phase I, this sludge will be converted into a purified chromic oxide by using an innovative combination of pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and mineral processing techniques. The sludge cannot be converted directly to a metallurgically usable product due to the relatively high concentration of metallic and nonmetallic impurities that it contains. The proposed innovative procedure removes these impurities from the sludge waste and generates a purified chromium oxide. The procedure involves chemical reaction in heated fluidized beds and subsequent chemical processing treatment. The purified chromic oxide that is formed is converted by conventional aluminothermic reaction to pure chromium metal. Wastes generated throughout the processing will be converted in an environmentally acceptable manner into a vitrified product. The composition of the pure metal will meet the American Society for Testing and Materials' specification for aluminothermic chromium metal.

The proposed project will result in the conversion of hazardous chromium plating sludge into pure aluminothermic chromium metal. The U.S. metallurgical foundry industry imports 100 percent of the aluminothermic chromium that it consumes. The recovery of chromium metal values from hazardous sludge waste by the proposed process will offset chromium metal imports. Metallurgical applications for the pure metal include all nickel and cobalt base alloys for high-temperature gas turbine engine components, all nickel and iron base oxidation-resistant alloys for use in electrical resistance heating, most corrosion-resistant nickel base alloys for the chemical and oil industries, and hardfacing alloys for wear and corrosion resistance.

Supplemental Keywords:

small business, SBIR, hazardous waste, engineering, chemistry, EPA. , Toxics, Water, Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Wastewater, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Chemistry, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Hazardous, New/Innovative technologies, National Recommended Water Quality, 33/50, chromium plating sludge, plating sludge, chemical processing, chromium & chromium compounds, hazardous waste generation, chromium recycling, hazardous plating sludge, Chromium, metal plating industry, metal removal, metal recovery, industrial innovations, contaminant removal, recovery of heavy metals, hazardous waste, chromium electroplating baths, metal recovery , innovative technology, innovative technologies

Progress and Final Reports:
Final Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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