Grantee Research Project Results

In-Line Copper Recovery Technology

EPA Grant Number: R825370C069
Subproject: this is subproject number 069 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R825370
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions
Center Director: Robinson, Allen
Title: In-Line Copper Recovery Technology
Investigators: Semmens, Michael J. , Dillon, Carla
Institution: University of Minnesota
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: January 1, 1997 through January 1, 1999
RFA: Exploratory Environmental Research Centers (1992) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Center for Clean Industrial and Treatment Technologies (CenCITT) , Targeted Research

Objective:

The objective of this project was to investigate the ability of Continuous Deionization (CDI) to recover copper sulfate and purified water from acid copper electroplating rinse waters for reuse within the same process.

Approach:

To meet the project objectives, the following tasks were identified:

1) Process Review - Review operating parameters and current literature.
2) Bench-scale Testing - Run experiments using a bench-scale CDI unit under various conditions of operation. The solutions for testing will be those typically encountered in printed circuit media fabrication facilities.
3) Final Report Preparation - Prepare a detailed report of the technical and economic feasibility of CDI for in-line copper recovery.

This project has been completed. A literature review of the CDI process review was completed and the operating parameters and treatment objectives for high strength plating rinse waters was determined. Bench-scale experiments for both batch and single-pass flow regimes were designed and completed using synthetic copper sulfate rinse waters. Three different modules of varying configurations were tested under different conditions to identify the influence of the ion exchange resins. A pilot study was also completed to evaluate the effectiveness of the process on a real plating rinse water.

Expected Results:

Copper electroplating is a common metal finishing process. Copper plating from copper sulfate solutions is a primary and integral process in the manufacture of printed circuit media. These copper electroplating operations involve the generation of copper contaminated rinse waters that usually cannot be discharged without undergoing some form of treatment. Presently, two common types of treatment processes for copper-laden rinse water are hydroxide precipitation and ion exchange.

Hydroxide precipitation requires the addition of polymers, acids, and a hydroxide source. Wastewater and sludge are generated. Typically, the sludge will require disposal as a hazardous waste. Treatment by ion exchange will require regeneration of the resin by acids that will require additional treatment prior to disposal.

It is expected that the successful use of the CDI process for copper sulfate and purified water recovery would allow the discharge of pollutants from acid copper electroplating rinses to be eliminated. It would also eliminate the need to purchase, handle, and eventually dispose of treatment chemicals presently used in conventional and ion exchange treatment of these rinse waters.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 1 publications for this subproject | View all 155 publications for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

technology for sustainable environment, environmental chemistry, clean technology, environmental engineering, pollution prevention, cleaner production, continuous deionization, copper recovery, electroplating, wastewater , industrial waste, electroplating, metal finishing., RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Sustainable Industry/Business, cleaner production/pollution prevention, computing technology, Economics and Business, pollution prevention, Environmental Engineering, industrial process design, in-process changes, in-process waste minimization, industrial design for environment, chemical process safety, occupational safety, life cycle analysis, industrial wastewater , in-line copper recovery, cleaner production, environmentally conscious manufacturing, green design, pollution prevention design tool, dry machining, environmentally friendly technology, decision making, physico-chemical properties, clean technology, computer science, electroplating, cost benefit, industrial process, industry pollution prevention research, process modification, information technology, innovative technology, life cycle assessment, outreach and education, industrial innovations, environmentally conscious design, green technology, decision support tool

Progress and Final Reports:

1997

Final

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R825370    Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R825370C032 Means for Producing an Entirely New Generation of Lignin-Based Plastics
R825370C042 Environmentally Conscious Design for Construction
R825370C046 Clean Process Advisory System (CPAS) Core Activities
R825370C048 Investigation of the Partial Oxidation of Methane to Methanol in a Simulated Countercurrent Moving Bed Reactor
R825370C054 Predictive Tool for Ultrafiltration Performance
R825370C055 Heuristic Reactor Design for Clean Synthesis and Processing - Separative Reactors
R825370C056 Characterization of Selective Solid Acid Catalysts Towards the Rational Design of Catalytic Reactions
R825370C057 Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing: Prediction of Processing Waste Streams for Discrete Products
R825370C064 The Physical Properties Management System (PPMS™): A P2 Engineering Aid to Support Process Design and Analysis
R825370C065 Development and Testing of Pollution Prevention Design Aids for Process Analysis and Decision Making
R825370C066 Design Tools for Chemical Process Safety: Accident Probability
R825370C067 Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing: Design for Disassembly (DFD) in De-Manufacturing of Products
R825370C068 An Economic Comparison of Wet and Dry Machining
R825370C069 In-Line Copper Recovery Technology
R825370C070 Selective Catalytic Hydrogenation of Lactic Acid
R825370C071 Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Polymers from Industrial Wastewater
R825370C072 Tin Zeolites for Partial Oxidation Catalysis
R825370C073 Development of a High Performance Photocatalytic Reactor System for the Production of Methanol from Methane in the Gas Phase
R825370C074 Recovery of Waste Polymer Generated by Lost Foam Technology in the Metal Casting Industry
R825370C075 Industrial Implementation of the P2 Framework
R825370C076 Establishing Automated Linkages Between Existing P2-Related Software Design Tools
R825370C077 Integrated Applications of the Clean Process Advisory System to P2-Conscious Process Analysis and Improvement
R825370C078 Development of Environmental Indices for Green Chemical Production and Use