Tighter Metals Discharge Regulations: Impact and Solutions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new regulations to reduce effluent pollutant concentrations for the metal products and machinery industry. The automotive industry is targeted in the second phase of this proposal. The EPA's priority pollutant list includes seven metals. Currently, traditional precipitation technology is recommended to treat these seven metals, resulting in metal hydroxide formation. Sulfur-bearing compounds are utilized to reduce metal concentration levels further.

A new technology is discussed that demonstrates improved metals removal while reducing the environmental impact resulting from the use of sulfur compounds.