Spain
| Metal Parts Production: Eliminating Trichlorethylene |
The company manufactures metal parts with high-precision cuts. Oil is used to facilitate cutting and as a coolant during the process of smoothing rough edges. The parts then needed cleaning, which was achieved using trichloroethylene. To eliminate the need for trichloroethylene, a new process was developed which used a cleaning agent that doubled as a lubricant. |
| On-site Recycling: Drilling Fluids and Oil residue |
This company makes gear boxes and rear axles for industrial vehicles, and production is not undertaken in-line, but in batches. The parts undergo a machining stage in which water and cutting fluids are consumed, and a rinsing stage before assembly. The aqueous waste generated in these stages of the process, together with dirty water from the auxiliary cleaning process of the site?s production line, is treated externally. |
| Process Change aids Economic and Environmental Sustainability: Electroplating |
Contamination generated by the process is due to degreasing and zinc rinsing and passivation operations. The drag-out from the baths was considerable, leading to excessive contamination and exaggerated consumption of chemicals, both in the process itself and in the purification stage. Moreover, the rinsing process was generally inappropriate due to its excessive water consumption. Operating costs were thus too high and inefficiency was causing difficulty in meeting compliance for heavy metal concentrations, salts and conductivity in wastewater. |
| Recirculation of Pickle Baths in the leather-tanning sector |
The company took part in a European demonstration project for the extensive introduction of cleaner technologies, conservation of raw materials and optimization of the production process in the tanning industry. The company does double-faced leather curing for makers of sheepskin clothing. In the pickling process, the skins used to be introduced into four mixing tubs where they were treated with a mixture of formic acid, sulphuric acid and salt, which was dissolved in 12m3 (15.7 cubic yards) of water per tub and process. When the process was finished, the pickling liquor was drained from the bottom of the tubs, creating acid wastewater containing particles in suspension and oil and fat residual, which was put through a final sewage treatment process before its disposal. |
| Reducing Drag-out losses reduces economic and environmental costs |
This small company of 15 staff coats metal parts with hard chromium on top of nickel. The metal plating line is automated to move the parts from one bath to the next: degreasing, bright nickel, semibright nickel, pickling, and chrome bath. Between the tanks are rinsing sealed water tanks and continuous rinsing. |
| Steel Parts: Replacing cyanide salts in the cementation process |
The company is involved in the machining and assembly of power transmission components. The cementation process protects manufactured geared wheels, cogwheels, gearing and axles from friction and corrosion. Cyanide salts are used as a fuel medium, which involves the production of molten salts as well as the production of corrosive vapours that damage the facility’s metal structure. The company made the changes because of the possible environmental impacts associated with the handling and storage of cyanide salts, the complexity of the resultant special waste element?s inertization treatment and the effects of cyanide salt use on working conditions. |
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