Abstract

CHAVEZ PORRAS, Álvaro; CRISTANCHO MONTENEGRO, Diana Lucía  and  OSPINA GRANADOS, Édgar Alexánder. A clean alternative for galvanic wastewater treatment: literature review. Rev. ing. univ. Medellin [online]. 2009, vol.8, n.14, pp.39-50. ISSN 1692-3324.

This study presents a literature review on wastewater produced in galvanic industry, and a possible treatment alternative in order to decrease contaminants of such effluents. This industry basically generates liquid wastes with a big contaminating load in relatively small volumes. Additionally, generation of solid and semisolid wastes is the second main problem after discharge of liquids. It is concluded that wastewaters can reach a high level of toxicity for both environment and man. Then, some alternatives are proposed for treatment and possible recovery of heavy metals, especially for this industry which are important producers of contaminants, since conventional treatments are not totally effective for their elimination during the processes. This requires a combination of technological alternatives for treating wastewaters. Electrocoagulation has been considered as an effective method for eliminating wastewater contaminants and it allows recovering water for reuse purposes.

Keywords : Galvanic; industrial wastewater; environmental contamination; heavy metals.

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