Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Environmental Protection

September 18, 1998

Subject: Source Test Review

Techneglas, Inc.

Plating Operations

Jenkins Township, Luzerne County

To: Karen Gee

District Supervisor

Northeast Regional Office

From: Robert Small

Air Pollution Control Engineer

Division of Source Testing and Monitoring

Bureau of Air Quality

Through: L. Blaine DeHaven

Chief

Division of Source Testing and Monitoring

Bureau of Air Quality

Timothy R. Brooks

Chief

Source Testing Section

Division of Source Testing and Monitoring

Bureau of Air Quality

Techneglas, Inc. conduct nickel plating & stripping and chrome plating & stripping operations at the 

above location. Stainless steel molds, plungers and shells are chrome or nickel plated and used to form 

glass television face panels produced at the facility. Molten globs of glass from glass melting furnaces are 

discharged into molds which provide shape of the outer surface of the face panel. The plunger presses the 

molten glass into the shape of the inner surface of the face panel. The molds, plungers and shells are 

made of 420 stainless steel. Deterioration of the plating surfaces occurs due to use and the parts must be 

stripped and plated periodically.

The nickel plating operation consists of eight tanks. The first tank is an alkaline clean followed by a water 

rinse, a hydrochloric acid wash, a water rinse, a sulfuric acid wash, and three nickel plating tanks. All 

tanks, with exception of the two water rinse tanks, vent to the ventilation system. The nickel stripping 

operation consists of two non-cyanide strip tanks, a water wash, and a water bath. Only the two strip 

tanks discharge to the ventilation system.

The chrome plating operation consists of four chrome plating tanks, an alkaline rinse tank and two water 

rinse tanks. All tanks vent to existing ventilation system. The chrome stripping operation consists of 

three tanks. First is the strip tank containing a potassium phosphate solution followed by an alkaline wash 

tank and water rinse tanks. All vent to a ventilation system.
Data File

Techneglas, Inc.

Jenkins Township, Luzerne County 2 September 18, 1998

The emissions from the chrome plating operation are controlled by a MAPCO Enforcer III scrubber and 

combined with the uncontrolled emissions from the nickel plating & stripping and chrome stripping 

operations in a common 34-inch inside diameter stack and discharged to the atmosphere.

On July 28, 1998, personnel from Monarch Analytical Laboraties, Inc. conducted total chromium 

emission testing utilizing EPA Method 306 with the graphite furnace atomic analysis technique. Testing 

was performed in the chrome plating scrubber exhaust stack and in the duct containing nickel exhausts 

(stripping and plating) and chrome stripping exhaust. The purpose of the test program was to demonstrate 

compliance with the applicable conditions of Plan Approval No. 54-304-002A. The above test runs were 

performed in accordance with acceptable standard sampling methods and approved test protocol though 

test observation memo by David Baker of our office dated August 25 did indicate a problem with 

uncovered test port during chrome plating run no. 1. The calculations are correct with the exception that 

an incorrect meter sample volume (scf) was used to determine chrome plating run no. 1 emissions. The 

calculations were not corrected since the impact on the results was negligible. Consequently, the results 

appear to be valid and are acceptable to the Department.

The following data was extracted from the test report:

Total Chromium Emission Summary and Process Data

Test Date 07/28/98

Test Run Number 1 2 2

Pressure Drop during testing, (in H2O) 3.8 3.8 3.8

Average Testing Chrome Plater Current, (amps) 2095

Volumetric Flowrate, (dscfm)

Nickel Stripper & Plater and Chrome Stripper Duct

Chrome Scrubber Stack (Chrome Plating Operation)

Total Exhaust

9200

5400

14600

9200

5400

14600

9200

5300

14500

*Chrome Plating Concentration, (mg/dscm) 0.00512 0.00473 0.00591

*Chrome Scrubber Stack Emission Rate, (lb/hr) 0.000279 0.000258 0.000320

**Nickel Stripper & Plater and Chrome Stripper Concentration

(mg/dscm) 0.0139 0.0128 0.0163

Allowable Cr Emission Concentration, (mg/dscm) 0.03

Note: * Chrome plating operation emissions are controlled by a MAPCO Enforcer III scrubber.

** Nickel plating & stripping and chrome stripping operations are uncontrolled.

cc: Permit No. 40-318-031A

Reading File - Source Testing Section

Data File - Stack Testing

Compliance & Enforcement - Scott Kepner

Division of Permits

EPA/TRB