Water and Wastewater Terms Beginning C

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

cementation

(1) A spontaneous, electrochemical process that involves the reduction of a more electropositive (noble) species, for example, copper, silver, mercury, or cadmium, by electronegative (sacrificial) metals, such as iron, zinc, or aluminum. This process is used to purify spent electrolytic solutions and for the treatment of wastewaters, leachates, and sludges bearing heavy metals. Also called electrolytic recovery. (2) The process of heating 2 substances that are placed in contact with each other for the purpose of bringing about some change in 1 of them, such as changing iron to steel by surrounding it with charcoal and then heating it.