SBIR PHASE I: Advanced Membrane for Waste Metal Recovery

这个小企业创新研究的第一阶段项目将评估一种使用新型阴离子交换膜的多室电渗析电池，用于分离和回收污染废水中的金属。最初的应用将是从电镀和金属整理浴中回收铬，这是一个环境和经济问题。管理标准日益严格，金属的回收和再循环将节省大量资金。使用膜进行过滤和浓缩是解决这一问题的一种很有前途的方法，因为它们在低温下运行，不会产生新的废物，并且能够处理大量的废物。所提出的电池将允许同时从废物流中去除六价和三价铬。在第一阶段计划中，将合成一种具有高耐化学性的新膜，比全氟膜便宜。它的化学稳定性和电性能将被测量，并与目前可用的膜进行比较。该膜将被纳入一个三室，实验室规模的电渗析细胞，以证明有效去除有毒金属阳离子和六价铬。二期项目将把这种膜纳入一个多细胞电渗析系统，用工业废水进行测试。带有新膜的电渗析电池将允许有效和完全地从工业废水中去除有毒金属，并将其浓缩再利用或处理。商业应用包括处理电镀槽的废水冲洗，制革废水，金属精加工和回收战略金属。

95-61754 Rose This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will evaluate a multicompartment electrodialysis cell using a new anion-exchange membrane for the separation and recovery of metals in contaminated wastewater. The initial application will be for chromium recovery from plating and metal finishing baths which is of both environmental and economic concern. Regulatory standards are increasingly stringent and significant savings would result from recovery and recycling of the metal. Use of membranes for filtration and concentration is a promising method to address the problem because they operate at low temperatures, do not generate new waste, and are able to handle large volumes. The proposed cell will permit simultaneous removal of both hexavalent and trivalent chromium from the waste stream. In the Phase I program a new membrane with high chemical resistance will be synthesized that is less expensive than perfluorinated membranes. Its chemical stability and electrical properties will be measured and compared to currently available membranes. The membrane will be incorporated into a three-compartment, laboratory-scale electrodialysis cell to demonstrate effective removal of toxic metal cations and hexavalent chromium. The Phase II program will incorporate the membrane into a multicell electrodialysis system to test with industrial effluents. The electrodialysis cell with the new membrane will permit efficient and complete removal of toxic metals from industrial wastewater and concentrate them for reuse or disposal. Commercial applications include treatment of wastewater rinses from electroplating baths, tanning effluents, and metal finishing processes and recovery of strategic metals.