The Lancy Integrated
System for Treatment of Cyanide and
Chormium Wastes in Electroplating Plants
NEAL SCHPvEUR, Technical Director
Shakespeare Company
Kalmazoo, Michigan 49001
INTRODUCTION
Conferences, such as this conference, are indicative of the increasing national concern with water pollution. The Shakespeare Company, a fishing tackle
manufacturer, has long been concerned with conservation ana water pollution
abatement. As the opportunity has arisen at our various plants to accomplish
something worthwhile in this direction, we have taken positive steps to prevent
water pollution.   This paper presents the story of what we have done.
In 1961, it was proposed to enlarge the plating department at the Columbia,
S. C. plant of the Shakespeare Company. At this time, consideration was given
to the problem of plating waste disposal. Although this division of the Company
does not discharge into any public stream or sewer, but rather over waste ground,
it was felt that it would be in the public interest to treat the toxic wastes which
would be discharged. These wastes were expected to contain both chrome and
cyanides.
After considering several methods of contaminant destruction, it was decided
to use the Lancy Integrated System, developed and patented by Dr. L. E. Lancy
of Zelienople, Pa. (1).   This installation went into satisfactory operation in 1962.
When, in 1964, the Shakespeare Company decided to set up a manufacturing
plant in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the manufacture of fishing reels and golf
clubs, immediate consideration was given to electroplating waste disposal. This
time the waste effluent would be discharged into a city sewer and from there into
a public reservoir. State regulations for a tolerable level of contamination would
have to be met.
Once again, several methods of waste disposal were studied and reviewed
and, once again, it appeared that the interests of the Shakespeare Company and
the public would be best served by the installation of the Lancy Integrated System.
The Lancy Laboratories supplied the engineering, floor layout, specifications
for pumps, tanks and control equipment, bills of materials, operational instructions and methods of analysis. Work on this plant was begun late in 1964, and
was completed in the spring of 1965. The waste disposal system went into immediate, successful operation. The plant was highly approved by the State of
Arkansas.
In 1964, the Kalamazoo Division, i.e. .the Shakespeare Products Division,
was requested by the City of Kalamazoo to hold its contaminants to a certain
level which would not endanger the operation of a secondary municipal sewage
treatment plant, then being installed.
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