Corpus Christi Army Depot

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Plating

Industry: Military

Wastes Reduced: Plating Wastes

Substance: Chromium

Equipment: Electrodialysis

Location: Corpus Christi TX

No. of employees: 3500

Contact: Chuck Gains

Phone: (512) 939-4170

Description:

In November of 1991, a system was designed to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated by installing 5 additional electrodialysis units to process, collect, recycle and purify heavy metal plating solutions. This unit was "hard piped" into the manufacturing process and operated continuously as part of the plating process.

P2 Application:

A system that reclaims chromium from plating bath solutions and rinse tanks by oxidizing chromium oxide from the trivalent form to the hexavalent form which can be more readily reused.

Environmental Benefits:

The new process lowers hazardous material procurement due to reuse. Hazardous waste generation has been reduced by 88% due to the internal recycling of media.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

Initial capital cost was $340,000 with a payback period of 5 years. Savings come from lower operating costs, decreased part rework, improved process maintenance and control, and lower procurement costs.

Source: TCEQ