INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

Case Study #271

1. Headline: Process modification in a French metal

finishing company

2. Background: The electrolyzing device with porous,

percolated pulsed electrode (3PE) is a device which

recuperates metals in solution and restores them directly

to a metallic state without using the traditional

hydroxides method.

3. Cleaner Production Principle: Process modification

4. Description of Cleaner Production Application:

Information about the process and wastes

The surface treatment systematically generates effluents

containing metals in solution. The physicochemical plants

have always been used to resolve problems of waste,

however the discharge of hydroxide sludge poses problems

of risk and cost. The 3PE directly recycles the metal.

The 3PE is a volemic cathode electrolyser whose surface

contact with the electrolyte remains constant, taking

account of the pulsation which prevents any clogging and

any binding of particles. Thus the electrochemical

capacity is constant for a given concentration.

Material / energy balance and substitution

Cost of direct investment

3PE 200 93 000 FF

3PE 300 98 000 FF

3PE 600 188 000 FF

6. Advantages: Avoid all handling of effluents. No other

supplementary product required. Avoids transportation and

sanitary landfilling of metallic hydroxide. 1986

7. Constraints: No information provided.

8. Contacts:

Martineau Industrie

57, route d'Espagne

31122 PORTET SUR GARONNE - France

TEL: 33 61.72.01.51

FAX: 33 61.72.02.06

M. Maton

M. Chatenet

Office International de l'Eau

Direction de la Formation et des Etudes

rue Edouard Chamberland

87065 Limoges Cedex, France

TEL: 33 55114770

FAX: 33 55777115

9. Keywords: ISIC 3511, France, metal, metal finishing,

process modification, electrolysis, hydroxide, sludge

10. This case study was submitted to UNEP IE in 1994 by the

French Office International de l'Eau. It has not undergone

a formal technical review.