Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of thermal stability of chromium-rich electroplating sludge

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Electroplating sludge is a water purification waste containing multiple valuable metals which demand recycling with efficiency mostly associated with its thermal behavior. In this study, the thermal stability of a typical chromium-rich electroplating sludge (CRES) was assessed based on the analyses of thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe micro-analysis, with a focus on phase transformations of chromium, iron, and sulfur-bearing components in the sludge within the temperature range up to 1600 °C. The results showed that the thermal stability of CRES in the temperature range could be divided into five stages. Initially, CRES had rapid mass loss below 450 °C (mostly from 196 to 393 °C), accompanied by the dehydration of metal hydroxides (CrO(OH), Fe(OH)2, and Fe(OH)3) to produce corresponding oxides, namely Cr2O3 (eskolaite), Fe3O4 (magnetite), Fe2O3 (hematite), and oxidation of CaSO3 to CaSO4 and partial Fe3O4 to Fe2O3. From 450 to 1000 °C, it remained relatively stable, with continuous minor oxidation of Fe3O4. Between 1000 and 1400 °C, CaSO4 decomposed. In the temperature range from 1400 to 1500 °C, there were decomposition of Fe2O3 and formation of (Fe,Mg)(Cr,Fe)2O4. When the temperature further increased to 1600 °C, partial replacement of Cr3+ by Fe3+ in Cr2O3 was identified.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CRES:

Chromium-rich electroplating sludge

References

  1. Yan K, Liu Z, Li Z, Yue R, Guo F, Xu Z. Selective separation of chromium from sulphuric acid leaching solutions of mixed electroplating sludge using phosphate precipitation. Hydrometallurgy. 2019;186:42–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen M, Zhou J, Zhang J, Zhang J, Chen Z, Ding J, Kong F, Qian G, Chen J. Ferrite catalysts derived from electroplating sludge for high-calorie synthetic natural gas production. Appl Catal A Gen. 2017;534:94–100.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Weng C, Sun X, Han B, Ye X, Zhong Z, Li W, Liu W, Deng H, Lin Z. Targeted conversion of Ni in electroplating sludge to nickel ferrite nanomaterial with stable lithium storage performance. J Hazard Mater. 2020;393:122296.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Chen H, Yuan H, Mao L, Hashmi MZ, Xu F, Tang X. Stabilization/solidification of chromium-bearing electroplating sludge with alkali-activated slag binders. Chemosphere. 2020;240:124885.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Zhang C, Song J, Zhang J, Zhang J, Xing J, Hu D, Peng Y, Zhou J, Liu Q, Gu H, Qian G. Understanding and application of an electroplating sludge-derived catalyst with an active texture for improved NO reduction. Sci Total Environ. 2018;631–632:308–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Matović L, Vujasin R, Kumrić K, Krstić S, Wu Y, Kabtamu DM, Devečerski A. Designing of technological scheme for conversion of Cr-rich electroplating sludge into the black ceramic pigments of consistent composition, following the principles of circular economy. J Environ Chem Eng. 2021;9(1):105038.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wang M, Gong X, Wang Z. Sustainable electrochemical recovery of high-purity Cu powders from multi-metal acid solution by a centrifuge electrode. J Clean Prod. 2018;204:41–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhang L, Zhou W, Liu Y, Jia H, Zhou J, Wei P, Zhou H. Bioleaching of dewatered electroplating sludge for the extraction of base metals using an adapted microbial consortium: process optimization and kinetics. Hydrometallurgy. 2020;191:105227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Nikfar S, Parsa A, Bahaloo-Horeh N, Mousavi SM. Enhanced bioleaching of Cr and Ni from a chromium-rich electroplating sludge using the filtrated culture of Aspergillus niger. J Clean Prod. 2020;264:121622.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dai Z, Wu Y, Hu L, Zhang W, Mao L. Evaluating physical-mechanical properties and long periods environmental risk of fired clay bricks incorporated with electroplating sludge. Constr Build Mater. 2019;227:116716.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kalola V, Desai C. Biosorption of Cr(VI) by halomonassp. DK4, a halotolerant bacterium isolated from chrome electroplating sludge. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2020;27(22):27330–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Li J, Wang Y, Wang Y, Gao Y, Yang Y, Wang R. Selective complex precipitation for ferro-chrome separation from electroplating sludge leaching solution. Front Chem. 2021;9:592407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Wu J, Yang L, Zhan J, Zhang C. Research on separation of chromium and iron in waste ferrochromium alloy. Hydrometallurgy China. 2011;30(1):51–6.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang H, Jiao S, Zhang G. Preparation of ferrosilicochromium by silicothermic reduction of Cr-bearing electroplating sludge. J Sustain Metall. 2023;9:303–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Duan G. Technical manual for electroplating wastewater reuse and treatment. Beijing: China Machine Press; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Tian L, Chen L, Gong A, Wu X, Cao C, Liu M, Chen Z, Xu Z, Liu Y. Separation and extraction of valuable metals from electroplating sludge by carbothermal reduction and low-carbon reduction refining. JOM. 2020;72(2):782–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Huang Z, Chen C, Xie J, Wang Z. The evolution of dehydration and thermal decomposition of nanocrystalline and amorphous chromium hydroxide. J Anal Appl Pyrol. 2016;118:225–30.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Snyder RG, Clavell-Grunbaum D, Strauss HL. Spinodal phase separation of unstable solid-state binary n-alkane mixtures. J Phys Chem B. 2007;111(50):13957–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Böke H, Akkurt S, Özdemir S, Göktürk EH, Saltik ENC. Quantification of CaCO3-CaSO3∙0.5H2O-CaSO4∙2H2O mixtures by FTIR analysis and its ANN model. Mater Lett. 2004;58(5):723–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Frost RL, Scholz R, Wang L. A Raman and infrared spectroscopic study of the phosphate mineral pseudolaueite and in comparison with strunzite and ferrostrunzite. J Chem Crystallogr. 2015;45:391–400.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Frost RL, Dickfos MJ. Raman and infrared spectroscopic study of the anhydrous carbonate minerals shortite and barytocalcite. Spectrochim Acta A. 2008;71(1):143–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Yang X, Roonasi P, Holmgren A. A study of sodium silicate in aqueous solution and sorbed by synthetic magnetite using in situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. J Colloid Interf Sci. 2008;328:41–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Yang J, Martens WN, Frost RL. Transition of chromium oxyhydroxide nanomaterials to chromium oxide: a hot-stage Raman spectroscopic study. J Raman Spectrosc. 2010;42(5):1142–11423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Mallikarjuna NN, Govindaraj B, Lagashetty A, Venkataraman A. Combustion derived ultrafine Υ-Fe2O3 structure, morphology and thermal studies. J Thermal Anal Calorim. 2003;71:915–26.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang X, Li X, Liu S, Zhou H, Li Q, Yang J. Cis-9-Octadecenylamine modified ferric oxide and ferric hydroxide for catalytic viscosity reduction of heavy crude oil. Fuel. 2022;322: 124159.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Mao L, Gao B, Deng N, Liu L, Cui H. Oxidation behavior of Cr(III) during thermal treatment of chromium hydroxide in the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metal chlorides. Chemosphere. 2016;145:1–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ingo GM, Riccucci C, Chiozzini G. Origin of gas porosity in gold-based alloys cast in calcium sulfate-bonded investment and influence of metal oxide acid-base properties on calcium sulfate thermal stability. J Am Ceram Soc. 2001;84(8):1839–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang J, Peng Z, Luo G, Tian R, Rao M. Microwave drying kinetics of chromium-rich electroplating sludge. Metals. 2023;13(1):87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 52111530046, the Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hunan Province, China under Grant 2023JJ10073, and the Science and Technology Planning Project of Hunan Province, China under Grant 2019RS2008.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China

    Jian Zhang, Zhiwei Peng, Ran Tian, Huimin Tang, Lei Ye, Mingjun Rao & Guanghui Li

Authors
  1. Jian Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhiwei Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ran Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Huimin Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lei Ye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mingjun Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Guanghui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhiwei Peng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, J., Peng, Z., Tian, R. et al. Assessment of thermal stability of chromium-rich electroplating sludge. J Therm Anal Calorim 148, 10335–10344 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12400-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12400-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation