INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY # 84

1.   Headline:  Internal recycling in a jewelry plater.

2.   Background:  See below.

3.   Cleaner Production Principle:  Internal recycling, process
     modification

4.   Description of Cleaner Production Application:  The
     company replaced its chlorofluorocarbon degreaser with
     ISC-108, an alkali cleaning compound, and eliminated the
     use of 360 gpy of CFCs.  The company improved its recovery
     of gold through the use of dragout tanks, conductivity
     meters, timed rinse water flows and countercurrent
     rinsing. These process changes have reduced the quantity
     of waste produced and improved cleaning operations.

     Material/Energy Balances and Substitutions:

                              FEEDSTOCKS:
                              Electroplating rinse waters,
                              plating baths

                              WASTES:              Plating
                              rinse waters, precious metals

                              MEDIUM:              Water

5.   Economics:

                              DIRECT COST:
                              $1,936/year

                              FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION:
                              $15,000/year

6.   Advantages:

                              WASTE PRODUCTION:
                              Eliminated use of
                              Chlorofluorocarbons, 56%
                              reduction in wastewater
                              production.

                              IMPACT:
                              Eliminated the use of
                              chlorofluorocarbon degreasers,
                              decreased volume of wastewater
                              production.

7.   Constraints:  No information provided.

8.                                 Contacts and Citation:

     Preliminary Report: Phase I Source Reduction Activities,
     Southeast Platers Project, Massachusetts Department of
     Environmental Management, Office of Safe Waste Management,
     July, 1988, Case Study B, Page 3.

     Name and Location of Company:

              Massachusetts Department of Environmental
          Management
              Office of Safe Waste Management
              100 Cambridge Street
              Boston, MA
              United States

9.   Keywords:  United States, USA, metal, jewelry,
     electroplating, recycling, process modification,
     chlorofluorocarbon, SIC 3911, CFC, degreasing,
    counter-current rinsing.

10.  Reviewer's Comments:  This case study was originally
     abstracted for the United States Environmental Protection
     Agency's Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse.
     It underwent a UNEP IE funded technical review in 1994 for
     quality and completeness.  It was edited for the ICPIC
     diskette by UNEP IE in July 1995.



(DOCNO: UNEP01.52  022-003-A-033)