Metallic Ions Removal of Electroplating Rinse Water by Electroplating to Formation Corrosion Resistant Metal Alloys

Abstract

The rinse water of the jewelry industry is a problem due to the high concentration of toxic metals that it possesses, and can cause great environmental damages if it is discarded unduly in the water bodies, besides damaging the sewage network and provoking the deterioration of the soil, depending on the treatment accomplished. Therefore, different treatments have been applied to the rinsing water with the objective of removing these metals, but the commonly applied treatments involve the precipitation of these metals and the directing of the same to landfills. Thus, it is very important and beneficial for the environment and society to develop alternatives for the removal of these metals, with techniques that promote their reuse, such as the electrochemical electrodeposition technique. In this scenario, this project aims to obtain metallic coatings through the electrodeposition of the metals present in the rinse water of the jewelry industry. Thus, different electrodeposition methodologies will be evaluated, aiming at the improvement of the electrodeposition efficiency and maximum removal of the metals from the rinse water. The obtained coatings will be characterized in relation to the crystallinity, morphology and composition, respectively, by the techniques of X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy with X-ray Dispersive Energy. In addition to these physicochemical characterizations, adhesion and corrosion resistance of metallic coatings will be evaluated. The corrosion resistance studies will be carried out by electrochemical linear polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. (AU)