Esmil has vast experience in the metal processing industry. From bench scale studies right the way through to full scale plant operations, Esmil offers BAT (Best Available Technology) using high-end membrane separation and dewatering processes.
Esmil wastewater treatment technology for metal processing plants is based on pre-treatment methods like Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) and filtration followed by membrane separation. The permeate is polished using either/or Ion Exchange, Activated Carbon or Advanced Oxidation Processes to meet the most challenging discharge specifications. The actual process stages are governed by site requirements, desired rate of water recovery, recovery of acids and metals and to reduce solid/liquid disposal costs by improving plant effluent quality to meet environmental constraints.
Metal processing effluents treated by Esmil Process Systems include:
- Acid Rinse Waters
- Acid Recovery
- Copper Sulphate/ Rinse Water Recovery
- Heavy Metals Removal/ Recovery
- Shipyard Effluents
Acid and Metal Recovery
Esmil Process Systems technology is designed to optimise recovery of both residual metals and spent acid offering the following advantages:
- Rapid investment pay-back
- Electrolyte / Metals recovery
- Acid and rinse water recovery
- Reduced environmental liability
Applications of Esmil Process Systems technologies at a copper rod plant and printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer, achieved water recoveries from spent acid rinse waters of 95%, and copper recovery of 99% from their effluent streams.
Heave Metals Removal
Heavy metal removal / recovery is particularly important in the metals industry across a range of sectors from mining tailing ponds to processing applications. Esmil physico-chemical treatment technologies together with membrane technology are well suited to solving the problem of heavy metals due to the high rejection efficiency by the membrane materials. This can reduce the load on current conventional treatment systems such as ion exchange or act as a stand-alone “plug and play” system to achieve the desired effluent qualities.
