The Use of Liquid-Liquid Extraction for Heavy Metals Recovery and Reuse From Plating Wastewaters

Abstract

Metals treatment and recovery from plating wastewater is important to protect the environment and to provide cost-effective alternatives to waste disposal. Battelle has developed alternative processes, using liquid-liquid extraction (LLX), to specifically remove metals from wastewaters. This paper presents demonstration results for anion liquid ion exchange (A-LIX TM ) and introduces cation liquid-liquid extraction (C-LLX). These technologies allow the recovery of the extracted metals, thus avoiding costly disposal and the attendant potential liability associated with disposal. Economic assessments, operational factors, and comparisons to conventional technology are presented.