Use Filtration Along the Regular Spiking to Extend Acid Bath Life
Filtration and regular spiking can make the acid bath viable almost indefinitely. This process removes colloidal contaminants and dissolved materials, extending the life of acid baths and reducing the amount of hazardous waste produced in the facility.
A case study at an anodizing facility demonstrated the effectiveness of this technique in extending the life of sulfuric acid baths. Before applying acid life-extending techniques, the facility had to dump the acid baths regularly into the wastewater pretreatment facility. Partially, they dumped the acid baths every six months, and altogether every six months. The annual amount spent on dumping the spent sulfuric baths was $3,140. Assuming the worst-case scenario of dumping half of the acid baths annually, the overall cost of implementation and assumption of dumping half of the acid baths annually led to a payback of a year.
By implementing the suggested approach for extending the life of acid baths, facilities can increase their life with a very low payback period or investment. This approach also has a significant positive environmental impact, as it substantially reduces the amount of disposed hazardous waste.