Raman spectroscopy and XRF identification: First step in industrial wastewater management

Considering the environmental risk, industrial facilities should strive to maximise the effectiveness of on-site treatment processes. It is important to detect the types of pollutants in wastewater and their concentrations, which can be challenging in industrial conditions. In this study, industrial wastewater samples from pickling and electropolishing of stainless steel were analyzed through Raman spectroscopy and XRF techniques using portable instruments. A 3-step procedure for the rapid identification of type of wastewater was proposed. The identification and analysis of peaks present in the Raman spectroscopy at 900, 990, 1050, 1380 cm−1allows for the differentiation of wastewater type and dilution. The final step is to employ XRF measurements to determine the approximate content of the investigated elements. The use of portable analytical instruments for the estimation of contamination levels is essential for the management of the industrial wastewater neutralization process as well as during emergency operations in cases of accidents.