Chromium is a transition metal with an atomic number of 24.
Applications
Chromium is a hard, silver-colored metal with a blue tint found in chromite globally, including in South Africa, India, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. It is often used in treating wood, steel manufacturing, plating, and leather tanning.
Challenges
Hexavalent chromium, also commonly known as chrome-6 or chrome (VI), is a known carcinogen and an emerging health concern for groundwater. Chromium is hazardous to human health and is suspected of causing cancer and tumors. The metals plating industry uses chromic acid baths to coat car parts with chromium. In this process, impurities are left behind, which, without removal, can cause the deterioration of chromic acid baths.
Solutions
Resin technology is used for two types of applications.
Removal from Groundwater
Chromium can be found in groundwater at industrial sites where wood treatment or metal plating solutions were used due to leakage, poor storage, or improper disposal practices. The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has designated chromium at a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 micrograms/liter.
Varying water conditions, including alkalinity, sulfate, TOC, chrome-6, and uranium levels, require different types of treatment. Ecolab offers several industry-leading solutions that work within various site and operational conditions. Regenerable Purolite™ A600E/9149, Purolite PGW6002E or single-pass Purolite S106 can provide cost-effective solutions for reducing or eliminating contamination to meet compliance with state and federal MCLs.
For more information, visit Potable and Groundwater Products.
Removal from Chromic Acid Treatment Baths
Chromic acid treatment baths are used within the metals plating industry to coat car parts. A charge is placed onto the parts, then dipped in a chromic acid treatment bath, where chromium is attracted to them. The concentration of these impurities needs to be controlled to allow the re-use of chromic acid.
Purolite Puromet™ MTS9100 is used in Chromium III bath purification.
For more information, visit
Metals Plating Industry Products.
