2003 Annual Report | Electrolysis and Ion Exchange for the In Process Recycling of Copper from Semi-Conductor Processing Solutions| Research Project Database | NCER | ORD

2003 Progress Report: Electrolysis and Ion Exchange for the In Process Recycling of Copper from Semi-Conductor Processing Solutions

EPA Grant Number: R829627
Title: Electrolysis and Ion Exchange for the In Process Recycling of Copper from Semi-Conductor Processing Solutions
Investigators: Doyle, Fiona M. , Evans, James W.
Institution: University of California - Berkeley
EPA Project Officer: Savage, Nora
Project Period: January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004 (Extended to April 30, 2007)
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004
Project Amount: $325,000
RFA: Technology for a Sustainable Environment (2001)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research project isto develop an understanding of the electrodeposition of copper onto extended-area electrodes, and of the adsorption/desorption of copper onto ion exchange resins with a high affinity for copper. The principles elucidated in this work will pave the way for subsequent development of commercial-scale electrolysis/ion exchange processes for recovering copper throughout semiconductor fabrication plants.

Progress Summary:

We used a rotating disk electrode (RDE) to demonstrate that aminoacetaldehyde dimethylacetal inhibits copper deposition whereas ethanolamine has little effect. These species model the intermediate and final reduction products of glycine, respectively. Glycine was previously shown to inhibit copper deposition.
We also used RDE to demonstrate that alanine inhibits copper deposition, regardless of the presence of air. This contrasts the behavior of glycine, which only inhibits deposition in de-aerated solutions.
We used an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance to measure adsorption directly and demonstrated that adsorption of glycine onto copper increases markedly with increasingly cathodic potentials, forming layers several tens of monolayers thick.
We demonstrated that copper will deposit throughout porous carbon electrodes if inhibiting agents are present, but only on the exterior in the absence of inhibitors. This is potentially problematic for treating effluents of different compositions.
We developed a novel fluidized bed electrode for copper deposition wherein the cathodic “current collector” and anode are kept a fixed distance apart to maintain a constant cell voltage as the copper deposit builds up.
We demonstrated that dilute aqueous ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solutions elute copper from Dowex M4195 (with a bispicolylamine functional group) as effectively as the more concentrated ammonia solutions. However, neither eluted all the copper.
We demonstrated that elution efficacy of aqueous bispicolylamine was similar to that of EDTA.
We observed progressive decrease in uptake capacity of Dowex M4195 with repeated uptake/elution/regeneration cycles.
We explored the potential of separating different metallic contaminants using selective elution from Dowex M4195.
We started work on a sulfonic acid ion exchange resin, because of difficulties encountered with the chelating resin Dowex M4195.

Future Activities:

We will improve and document the performance of novel fluidized bed electrodes for copper recovery. We also will generate kinetic data and uptake-elution isotherms for a sulfonic acid resin for different concentrations of copper and pH. We will analyze uptake and elution isotherms to provide the basis for models for uptake and selectivity of metals onto resins to guide the commercial development of effective ion exchange units.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 11 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

water, heavy metals, effluent, environmentally conscious manufacturing, clean technologies, cleaner production, copper recycling, in-process recycling, ion exchange, semi-conductor processing, semiconductor industry, semiconductor manufacturing, sustainable industry/business, chemical engineering, economics and business, environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, sustainable environment, , Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Economics and Business, semiconductor manufacturing, in process recycling, semi-conductor processing, cleaner production, clean technologies, waste minimization, semiconductor industry, copper recycling
Relevant Websites:

http://www.mse.berkeley.edu/Groups/Evans/Ran/Removal_Of_Dissolved_Copper.html

Progress and Final Reports:
2002 Progress Report
Original Abstract
2004 Progress Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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2003 Progress Report: Electrolysis and Ion Exchange for the In Process Recycling of Copper from Semi-Conductor Processing Solutions

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