Electrochemical Pollution Control - Substitute for Cyanide Bath for Copper

In the age of raising industrial production the problem of environmental protection becomes a vital aspect in all questions of the human society. The problem involves questions of careful utilisation of natural resources, the prevention of useless or harmful side products, environmentally - tailoring of products. Chemical industry in the widest meaning plays a major role in the solution of these questions. Also electrochemistry can contribute as its main scientific interest lays in the interaction of energy and chemical matter. Electrochemical processes my influence the environment mainly as follows. ï‚· production of harmful substances in the course of the electrochemical reaction. ï‚· generation of harmful substances in the course of the electrochemical reaction. ï‚· indirect generation of harmful side-products at the electrode or the electrolyte by chemical reaction sequences. ï‚· decomposition products of the electrode materials ï‚· formation of residual electrolytes and electrode wastes Electrochemical processes offer certain of advantages in comparison in classical chemical processes. The electrochemical reaction can easily be controlled by the electric current. In this way also the electrical conditions, potentials, reaction rate are observable and can be monitored. Therefore, the level of disturbance of the environment should be lower than in classical chemical processes. On the other hand electrochemical processes are usually very selective due to the opportunity to control the electrode potential. They can be used to remove certain harmful substances from the environment. The flash or strike bath for copper deposition on MS (Mild Steel) Components prior to other plating involves at present in the industry, the use of Cyanide complex baths. The hazards from the use to find a substitute for cyanide bath. An attempt is made in this work, to formulate a Copper - EDTA disodium salt complex bath and its suitability to obtain a Copper strike on MS component. The optimum operating conditions like current density, composition of bath, temperature, and pH are evaluated. The cost of this EDTA bath is also estimated.