Kelly Air Force Base

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Aluminum Anodizing

Industry: Military

Wastes Reduced: Wastewater

Substance: Chromate

Equipment: Phosohate Deoxidizer

Location: San Antonio TX

No. of employees: 13000

Contact: Greg Vallery

Phone: (210) 925-3100

Description:

Kelly AFB Aircraft Directorate has an anodize process located at the bonding shop anodize line in Bldg. 375. This process uses a chromated deoxidizer. Chromium can exist as either trivalent or hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogen and causes a wide range of systemic effects on humans. Chromium causes adverse acute and chronic effects in aquatic organisms. EPA lists chromium as a hazardous waste due to its toxicity characteristic (EPA Waste Code D007) at a concentration of 5 ppm. This project is designed to reduce the use of Chromium which is an EPA 17 ITP chemical by chemical substitution.

P2 Application:

The chromated deoxidizer was replaced with a Boeing patented Phosphoric Acid Deoxidizer (PAD).

Environmental Benefits:

This project eliminated approximately 1,000 pounds/year of sodium dichromate, an EPA 17 ITP chemical, reducing the chromium load on the base Industrial Waste Treatment Plant.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

Cost savings on materials alone is approximately $1,100/yr.

Source: TCEQ