10.
Surface treatment
10. SURFACE TREATMENT
All treatment processes must by
preceded by in-depth investigation of work-
shops in order to optimise rinse water
output and plan for recovery of raw
materials wherever feasible (see page 113).
10.1.
RECYCLING
This process allows recycling of rinse
water after purification on ion exchangers.
Water sent through the detoxication process
is not included as it contains cyanides
and/or high quantities of grease or
hydrocarbons.
Figure 994 illustrates the main
possibilities with the closed system.
Ion exchangers can be installed at a fixed
position with on-site regeneration. This
technique is valid for large plants.
Installations may be "mobile" and sent to an
approved centre for regeneration. This
solution is better suited to smaller facilities
(maximum resin volume of 200 l) and
requires permanent access to a set of
regenerated exchangers.
10.2.
DETOXICATION
Detoxication is also known as once-
through system treatment.
It is impossible to detail all available
Treatment procedures are built around
two main channels: recycling and the once-
through system (detoxication). These two
procedures more or less overlap.
Whatever the technique adopted, recycling
has a dual recovery role - re-use of water
and pollution concentration. Recycling must
be systematically completed by a
detoxication treatment.
The advantages of recycling on ion
exchangers are:
- considerable reduction in water
consumption,
- production of totally pure water at a low
cost, with improvement in rinsing quality,
- concentration of pollution (subsequent
treatment at a lower rate),
- recovery of certain costly products (gold,
silver, chromates),
- stabilisation of chromium baths.
Recovery of precious metals or highly
toxic metals can also be carried out by
continuous electrolysis in a spill bath. This
technique is especially suitable for gold,
silver, cadmium and copper.
treatment configurations here. However,
they all involve a number of elementary
functions (figure 996) using oxidation,
reduction and neutralisation reactions,
followed by precipitation of the various
toxic substances and metallic hydroxides
(see pages 258 and 260).
Chap. 26: Industrial processes and the treatment of wastewater
 10. Surface treatment

Figure 995. Arospatiale in Marignane, Southern France. Recycling of electrolytic

baths. Two ion exchanger trains with resin polishing for retention of surface-active
agents. Capacity: 2 x 60 m3 .h -1 .
 Chap. 26: Industrial processes and the treatment of wastewater

The use of Turbactors, fast, pressurised space, the separation of different

mixer reactors in closed vessels, allows
reaction time savings in relation to
conventional systems. They also enable
compact installations (figure 997).
According to flow rate and available
precipitated hydroxides may be carried out
in static settling tanks or lamellae clarifiers
(Sedipac).
Dewatering of drawn off sludge is
frequently performed by filter press.
 10. Surface treatment

Figure 998. The ACR company in Roanne, Central France. Purification of effluents from pickling,
oil removal, phosphation and surface preparation. Capacity. 30 m3 .h -1 .