Global-Chemgraph

Global Environment Corporation Pty Ltd  are active in promoting cleaner production technology.  The "Global-Chemgraph Electrowinning Process for Printed Circuit Board Etch Regeneration" (GC-EP) is for the minimisation and treatment of waste from the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) industry. The highly efficient process treats spent etch solutions by recovering copper from solution and regenerating the etch. A pilot treatment plant, established in Melbourne, has been so successful that the operation has captured the majority of the market for PCB waste treatment in Eastern Australia. The two companies are excited with the success of the GC-EP and are currently moving towards expansion of the operation overseas.

The Technology

The GC-EP process is an innovative system that treats waste PCB etch by a stepwise process culminating in an electrowinning stage. The process can be described briefly as follows. Waste etch solution containing relatively high copper concentration is pre-treated by a proprietary process to release the copper for recovery by electrowinning. The copper-free etch solution is then regenerated by addition of make-up chemicals and resold back to the PCB industry for use as fresh etch replenisher in the manufacturing process.

Cooperation between the etch manufacture and the PCB industry results in

a) a cost effective waste minimisation program with little or no discharge to waste and
b) a sustainable cycle of activity with maximum re-use of resources.

This is a major environmental benefit by any standard. Another benefit to implementing or using this environmentally beneficial process is a much improved control over PCB product quality and maximisation of etch chemical efficiency.