Methods for Treating Metal Finishing
Wastes
HUBERT  S.  KLINE
Director of Industrial Hygiene and Sanitary Engineering,
Frigidaire Division
General Motors Corporation
Dayton, Ohio
Rapid progress has been made in the development of methods for
industrial waste treatment during the past decade. The situation as it
existed in 1945 when the General Motors Industrial Waste Control
Committee was organized has changed greatly. This new committee
had agreed to meet frequently to review the industrial waste problems
of the corporation and to summon experts to discuss the methods of
treating industrial wastes, procedures for chemical analysis of waste
solutions, and present data on toxicity of certain compounds likely to
be found in public water courses. It was soon learned that there
were no "experts" on industrial waste treatment at the time. Sanitary
engineers were primarily qualified in the field of sewage treatment and
knew very little about the problems of industry, particularly those of
the electroplaters. Likewise, it was discovered that most of the personnel
of the regulatory agencies had very indefinite ideas regarding toxicity
or the detrimental effects of metal finishing wastes on stream life and
sewage treatment systems. In the framework of this picture of 1945
was the theme that production of war materials came first, and both
industry and the general public were so occupied with thoughts of
winning the war that there was little time to think of travel, recreation,
or peacetime hobbies.
At the close of World War II, it was necessary for many plants
to discard solutions and materials used for war production in order
that they begin to convert to their normal peacetime operations. Public
travel restrictions were relaxed and there were many who sought the
out-of-doors for recreation and enjoyment. It was then that a great
howl was raised to the regulatory authorities to stop further pollution
of recreational waters. It required several years for engineers and
metal finishing experts to develop means for rendering industrial wastes
harmless and during this time the legislators were busy writing laws
and regulations to prevent manufacturers from discharging their waste
solutions into public water courses.
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