Carbonate Removal Enhances Performance
The Challenge
A German zinc-nickel plater sought to minimize electrolyte waste, embrace sustainability, and adopt advanced processes. Rising waste disposal costs and stricter environmental standards demanded a rethink of waste and wastewater management.
The challenge: Carbonates and sulfates accumulated in the ZnNi bath, compromising quality. The plater relied on the labor- and cost-intensive Bleed & Feed process to maintain deposition quality. However, this method generated excessive electrolyte waste, prompting the company to install a CarboPure unit for a more sustainable solution.
The MacDermid Envio Solution
The CarboPure unit removes carbonates and sulfates from the plating electrolyte, preventing salting and ensuring consistent, optimal performance.
Results
The CarboPure system delivered:
- Reduced costs and labor
- Savings on raw materials and energy
- Enhanced environmental and energy efficiency
- Improved solution conductivity, cutting energy use by 15–20%
- Reduced zinc content, drag-out, plating time, and current density
- Increased product throughput
- Significant reduction in zinc-nickel waste requiring external treatment
This innovative solution combines sustainability, efficiency, and cost savings, setting a new standard for zinc-nickel plating operations.