Two case studies on the value of metal recovery from wastewater

A question that we hear from Clients every day is "Can I recover (copper - or other metals) from this?"  The material in question can be concentrated wastes, dilute effluents, ores, concentrates, residues, plating baths, bleed streams and so on.  It seems like a very easy and straightforward question to answer, and in some cases that is true.  In other cases, however, the answer is a bit more complicated requiring some additional information.  Let's take a closer look at the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to the common question "Can I recover (copper - or other metals) from this?"

Electrocoagulation (EC) is an electrolytic process that is used mostly for wastewater and industrial process water treatment. Due to its unique ability to remove contaminants such as emulsified oils, suspended solids and dissolved metals, electrocoagulation has become one of the fastest growing technologies in this area. There are various devices and systems that comprise the basic principle of electrocoagulation which I would like to explain in this article.

In a world which is increasingly demanding sustainability, nonferrous metal recycling has become a very important practice. Opting for recycling does not only mean being responsible towards the environment and reducing the carbon footprint, it is also a very reasonable business in industries that rely on using non-renewable resources.

Objectives of advanced green technologies

Advanced green technologies (AGTs) refer to a group of practical methodologies and materials based, among others, on non-toxic chemical processes, clean energies, and environmental monitoring to slow down or correct the negative impact induced by human activities.

Billions of litres of wastewater are treated every year in wastewater treatment plants around the world. This wastewater, both industrial and municipal, can contain various pollutants depending on the source. Wastewater may contain soap, waste products, food scraps, human waste, oils and in some cases, metals. The main goal of wastewater treatment is to preserve the environment and keep the pollutants out of rivers and oceans.

What is Metal Finishing?

Metal finishing is a type of surface finishing that can be defined as the deposition of a metallic coating onto a product either to enhance performance, function or aesthetic qualities while providing overall added value. While it's not obvious on a daily basis, many objects have been subjected to metal finishing for use in our normal lives. These include parts in a car, aircraft, fencing, medical and dental devices, industrial machinery or even beautiful pieces of art. The term finishing is based on the fact that it's normally the last step of the manufacturing process (save for any heat treatment).

Electrometals would like to congratulate Bosch Australia for winning the Premier's Sustainability Award for Environmental Protection using emew technology to recover copper from industrial wastewater!