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Environmental Benefits of
DryLyte Technology
Waste Management
The DryLyte Technology and the equipment it powers, DLyte, do not require wastewater or sludge treatment machinery. Both allow labor and environmental license costs savings, since the dry electrolyte required can be easily handled by standard services. In its turn, all the metal removed from the work pieces remains in the media.
The previous feature offers a clear advantage in comparison to traditional abrasive surface treatments, which require wastewater treatment machinery and the adequate space to work. It also involves labor and environmental license costs. Moreover, abrasive surface treatments need a water treatment system in order to clean the water polluted with metals and compounds.
Liquid electropolishing requires additional safety measures to be put in place for proper disposal, due to environmental concerns related to highly corrosive and toxic mixtures of phosphoric and sulphuric acids and sludges containing metals.
In addition, several liquid electrolytes may generate certain amounts of sludge which require to be removed from the tanks to keep the process stable.
Liquid electropolishing needs replacement of a portion of the used solution for a good performance and to guarantee a high-quality metal surface finishing process. The disposal of the liquid requires a specific service to ensure environmental compliance conforming to regulations.
This surface treatment method may also require a post-dip to remove residual electrolyte and by-products from electrochemical reactions. The disposal of liquids used in the post-dip process may also requires hazardous waste management.
Water Consumption
The DLyte system requires low water consumption, as it only needs water to adjust conductivity of the media.
On the contrary, in abrasive surface treatment, large amounts of water are generally necessary to polish, especially for high quality surface finishing requirements. If different materials are processed in the same media, a heavy flow of water will prevent pollution.
Footprint and Multiple
Process Replacement
DLyte reduces the processing time, replaces several post-processing steps and saves space in the factory. On the other hand, it does not require additional peripherals such as water recycling (centrifuges or flocculant units) or waste management as other technologies do.
Optimization of space is a further benefit of DLyte.
Handling and Storage
of Media and Mixtures
DLyte only uses solid electrolyte media with a low acid concentration which can be handled and stored without additional safety measures. It is not harmful for workers and, since it is solid waste, its handling reduces the probability of discharge in drains and waterways.
Abrasive surface treatment usually requires compound and chemical accelerators in large amounts, which involves a danger for workers during handling, as well as an eventual risk of discharge into the environment.
Liquid electropolishing uses highly corrosive and toxic liquid mixtures of phosphoric and sulphuric acids. This may be dangerous for professionals during handling and for environment.
This metal surface treatment usually requires a post-dip to remove residual electrolyte and by-products of the electrochemical reactions.
The handling of liquids used in the post-dip may also suppose a risk for workers, and can cause a discharge in waterways or drains.
Exposure of Workers during Polishing
and Maintenance Processes
DLyte improves working conditions and drastically reduces the toxicity of current polishing processes, as it does not generate dust, heavy noise or contact the workers with highly corrosive and toxic liquids during handling and maintenance. Metals removed from the work pieces remain in the media, so workers are not exposed to the cathode.
Abrasive surface treatment generates dust. It can be dangerous for the health, since the particles that cause damage are often invisible to the naked eye. This is why the eventual health effects of exposure can take many years to be visible. Abrasive surface equipment is usually very noisy and can lead to hearing loss in case of inadequate hearing protection or prolonged exposure to noise in the workplace.
Handling of sludge and compounds with high concentration of metals may be also harmful for workers if protective measures are not strictly ensured.
Secondly, abrasive surface treatment requires in some cases a final manual buffing to achieve the required surface quality, which involves an additional exposure to dust and toxic particles to workers.
Liquid electropolishing uses highly corrosive and toxic liquid mixtures of phosphoric and sulphuric acids in tanks which carries a high risk for workers in case of accidental splashes. Metals removed from the work pieces remain in the liquid and partially attached to the cathode. Thus, it involves a risk of exposure for workers during handling and maintenance of the tank and the cathode cleaning operation.
The post-dip process is performed in tanks to remove residual electrolyte and by-products from the electrochemical reactions. It also means a potential risk for workers in case of splashes during operation or by accident.
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