Abstract
In the electroplating process, the rinse system generates large quantities of wastewater requiring treatment prior to disposal to municipal systems. The use of conventional water treatment systems is a challenge due to the presence of hazardous components. In addition, this does not solve the problem of the generation of rinse wastewater, but only treats it. Thus the focus was on point-source reduction technologies, specifically the application of a three-stage low flow counter current rinse for recovery of the rinse water in the plating bath, enabling close circuiting of the plating bath rinse system. However, recovery of the rinse water into the plating bath is impeded by the low rates of evaporation, especially in the low temperature plating baths. Alternative methodologies to heating were investigated to facilitate evaporation, with evaporative cooling being identified as the most feasible option. Evaporative cooling facilitates evaporation, whilst maintaining the plating bath temperature within the operational limits.