Development of automatic electrolytic extractors for heavy metals in effluents

• Grant number: 03/13191-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2005
• End date: August 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Alcídio Abrão
• Grantee: Alcídio Abrão
• Company: ADP Água de Prata Tecnologia em Soluções Metálicas Ltda
• City: São Paulo

Abstract

The project aims to demonstrate the technical viability of automatic electrolyzers capable of monitoring levels of silver ions in effluents. These ions are present in all emissions produced by companies that work with photosensitive materials, such as hospitals, printing businesses and photo labs. The electrolyzers should operate potentiostatically or galvanostatically in hydrodynamic regime, selectively electrodepositing the metal and operating in the flow directly at the source of the emissions, which are the film development machines. All the measurement and control of the process will be carried out automatically by a microcomputer of the PIC series. In series with an electrolytic cell, Khemia’s equipment envisages ionic exchange filters and an automatic control valve, allowing the effluent from these machines to be discarded directly into the sewers, guaranteeing emissions always within legal norms. With consumption below 50 watts, the electrolytic extractors should recycle the used silver photographic fixers, prolong the useful life of the fixers and decontaminate the waste material. (AU)