Cadmium Water Pollution Associated with Motor Vehicle Brake Parts

Abstract

With increasing industrial growth, there is a greater need to understand factory production processes, the resulting products, and the pollution caused by the fabrication processes leading to these products. Cadmium (Cd) is used in the electro-less Nickel-Cadmium bath phase of the brake manufacturing process, which provides the brake coating that produces corrosion-resistant brake parts. During the operation, the friction created during braking corrodes the Cd layer and releases Cd particles into the environment. Cd particles can enter water bodies and drinking water supplies through stormwater runoff. This research will first examine Cd pollution associated with motor vehicle brake discs from cradle to grave. Following this comprehensive look into the role of Cd in the brake manufacturing process as well as Cd speciation in natural waters, three interventions are proposed to prevent Cd pollution associated with brake parts: (i) Carbon-reinforced silicon carbide as an alternative for metal based brake parts; (ii) bacteria "coating"instead of Cd coating; (iii) permeable roads that can effectively remove Cd from runoff with nearly 98% reduction. A discussion into the advantages and disadvantages of each proposition are provided with this presentation.