Metal reclamation process and apparatus

Claim 2

The improved electroplating process of claim 1 wherein said makeup solvent comprises water.

Claim 3

The improved electroplating process of claim 1 wherein the introduction of permeate recycle solution into the rinse tank maintains the rinse solution at a sufficiently low metal salt concentration so that it is effective as a rinse solution.

Claim 4

The improved electroplating process of claim 1, and exposing said rinse solution to a filter means for removing impurities from said rinse solution prior to contact with the semipermeable membrane.

Claim 5

The improved electroplating process of claim 1, and recycling said concentrate into said plating tank for reuse as a plating solution.

Claim 6

The improved electroplating process of claim 3 wherein the recycling of said concentrate into said plating tank includes: reducing the pressure of said concentrate below the pressure at which it is in contact with said membrane to a level compatible with that in the plating tank, combining makeup solution with said concentrate to form a concentrate recycle solution having a metal salt concentration such that the recycling of said concentrate recycle solution into the plating tank replaces the metal salt and the solvent leaving the plating tank, and introducing the concentrate recycle solution into the plating tank for reuse as a plate solution.

Claim 7

The improved electroplating process of claim 1 wherein the placing of the rinse solution in contact with a semipermeable membrane under pressure includes pressurizing said rinse solution prior to placement into contact with the semipermeable membrane.

Claim 8

The improved electroplating process of claim 8 wherein the rinse solution is placed in contact with the semipermeable membrane at a pressure of about 300-400 pounds per square inch.

Claim 9

An improved electroplating apparatus for plating an article with a thin coating of metal comprising: a plating tank adapted to contain plate solution of a relatively high metal salt concentration; a rinsing tank adapted to contain a rinse solution of a relatively low metal salt concentration, and having an inlet and an outlet for introduction and exit of rinse solution; means for sequentially immersing the article to be plated into the plate solution and then into the rinse solution; a pump means for pressurizing the rinse solution which exits from the rinse tank through the rinse tank outlet; a reverse osmosis unit for separating the pressurized rinse solution into two component solutions, a concentrate having a greater metal salt concentration than the rinse solution and a permeate having a lesser metal salt concentration than the rinse solution; means for combining the permeate with a makeup solution having a lesser metal salt concentration than the permeate; and conduction means for directing the rinse solution exiting from the outlet of the rinse tank to the pump means between the pump means and the reverse osmosis unit, between the reverse osmosis unit to the means for combining the permeate with makeup solution and from the means for combining the permeate with the makeup solution to the inlet of the rinse tank.

Claim 10

The improved electroplating apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plating tank has an inlet and a pressure control for reducing the pressure of the concentrate after leaving the reverse osmosis unit; and means for directing the concentrate from the reverse osmosis unit to the pressure control and for directing the concentrate from the pressure control to the inlet of the plating tank.