Sodium sulphide is one of the oldest known metal precipitants used in industrial waste water treatment in electroplating. Traditionally, sodium sulphide is often used for galvanizing, but also for copper plating in the printed circuit board sector. Whenever purely hydroxide precipitation is not sufficient, sulphides that produce metal salts with very low residual solubility are used.
The sodium sulphide scales are usually offered on the market with a concentration of 60-62%. At the end of the Corona period, there was already a significant shortage of scales on the market, which led to a price increase of up to 400% at peak times. At that time, one of the large European production facilities for these scales was closed.
In 2021, Färber & Schmid launched Diplexin S-100, a genuine alternative to solid flakes. As a liquid product with the same concentration and mode of action, Diplexin S-100 is the alternative to sodium sulphide in dry flake form. Despite its high concentration, Diplexin S-100 does not crystallize thanks to a special product stabilization. The product remains liquid.
Many companies have now successfully tested Diplexin S-100 and switched over immediately. No more dust emissions, added undiluted or diluted as before and also redox controllable - the advantages of the liquid delivery form of Diplexin S-100 clearly outweigh the disadvantages!
Practical experience shows that there are significant product savings in the range of 10-20 % despite the same active ingredient concentration. This is due to the fact that the sodium sulphide scales do not completely dissolve during preparation or are often added directly as a solid to the waste water treatment.
Färber & Schmid is not dependent on the solid sodium sulphide flakes for the production of Diplexin S-100 and is therefore less dependent on the fluctuating market prices of the flakes. The situation for sodium sulphide on the market is currently coming to a head again. Prices for large purchase volumes have risen by 25-30% in recent weeks. This is due to large volumes flowing out to North and Central America. European customers are simply being outbid in terms of price, meaning that prices are also continuing to rise in Germany. In contrast, Färber & Schmid does not expect the price of Diplexin S-100 to change, partly because constant availability is guaranteed.
Diplexin S-100 is more than just an alternative!
