New Media Reduces Cadmium From Electroplating Wastewater Discharge

Challenge

In August 2010, an electroplating facility in California specializing in aircraft components was issued specialty permit levels for the reduction of cadmium in discharge wastewater. The current permit of 250ppb was reduced to 70ppb and the allowed cadmium levels are expected to move lower over the next few years.

Cadmium has many industrial uses including in the aircraft industry electroplating applications due to the excellent resistance to corrosion for cadmium plated steel components. Environmental discharge limits for cadmium continue to decrease for industrial facilities across the United States and it is listed as one of the six substances banned by European Union’s Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive removing it from electrical and electronic equipment.