Solid waste characterization from galvanic process for an environmental economic evaluation

The galvanic process consists on the deposition of a thin metal layer on a metallic or plastic surface. This process generates large volumes of effluents that must be destined for the treatment systems in order to attend the Brazilian environmental standards regulations. The treatment system effluent is responsible for the generation of galvanic solid waste, also called galvanic sludge. The chemical and physicochemical analysis performed demonstrate that the company's treatment system under study operates incorrectly, producing an excess of galvanic sludge. The moisture content in the sludge was 63.5%, representing water as the main constituent. Due to the potential environmental risk of this generated sludge, was evaluated its economic value by the sum of the environmental costs related to the wastewater treatment process, the final destination of the waste galvanic and losses of chemicals based on copper, chromium and nickel. The amount of these chemicals in galvanic residue was 3.71, 3.34 and 0.58% respectively. The value obtained of R$ 30,362.90 per year confirms the environmental economic potential of the galvanic residue.

galvanic waste; sludge characterization; environmental economic evaluation