Apparatus and method for electrolytically treating chemical plating waste liquor

Abstract

An electrolytic treatment apparatus and method by simply subjecting a chemical plating waste liquor containing phosphorus components and organic compounds to electrolytic treatment, thereby reducing the amount of impurities in the waste liquor to a level at which the waste liquor can be discharged. The chemical plating waste liquor containing hypophosphorous acid, phosphorous acid and organic compounds is subjected to electrolytic treatment in an electrolytic cell having a conductive diamond electrode as an anode. The conductive diamond electrode oxidizes or oxidatively decomposes the phosphorus components and organic compounds in the waste liquor substantially simultaneously, thereby reducing the amount of impurities to a level at which the waste liquor can be discharged.

1 . An apparatus for electrolytically treating a chemical plating waste liquor containing hypophosphorous acid, phosphorous acid and organic compounds, which comprises having at least a conductive diamond electrode as an anode.  
     
     
         2 . A method for electrolytically treating a chemical plating waster liquor containing hypophosphorous acid, phosphorous acid and organic compounds contained in an electrolytic cell, which comprises using at least a conductive diamond electrode as an anode and applying an electric current to the conductive diamond electrode, thereby simultaneously performing electrolytic oxidation of hypophosphorous acid and phosphorous into orthophosphoric acid and oxidative decomposition of the organic compounds.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein an oxidizing agent is added to the chemical plating waste liquor.