Challenge

A large west coast printed circuit board manufacturer contacted Siemens Water Technologies to consider the potential for water reuse in the face of their facilities’ water shortage during a season drought.

The printed circuit boards require a final wash step to remove flux  and other impurities such as surfactants, copper, lead and tin.  Prior to discharge, or in this case reuse, the contaminated rinsewater needs to be treated for effective removal of the metals and to meet the company's makeup water requirements.

Solution

Siemens evaluated the water usage at the facility and determined that up to 90% of the water used in the board population process was easily recyclable.  Our wastewater ion exchange (WWIX) service was the key solution. Wastewater ion exchange is a service-based option which utilizes ion exchange resins and other medias selected to remove specific ionic contaminants from groundwater, industrial wastewater, and process water for recycle.

DOT approved vessels containing the media treat the water until capacity is reached. Once exhausted, the WWIX vessels are removed and replaced with fresh, DOT-compliant vessels and returned to service. Exhausted vessels are returned to our processing facility where the contaminants are removed.

Results

The Siemens' solution provided a quick, reliable response for this customer's needs.  Unlike permanent, installed systems, WWIX service offers customer's the ultimate flexibility to change treatment needs as the water demand changes.  In this case, should drought conditions improve, the customer has the ability to return to their standard process. 

Siemens' central hazardous/non-hazardous treatment facility receives the spent ion exchange and treats the waste/wastewater for effective removal of the contaminants from the resin and recycle of the metallic commodities.  This service provides significant incentive to customers because regeneration and treatment is handled offsite by Siemens trained technicians, thereby eliminating the need for chemical storage onsite and the potential for contamination in the surrounding environment is eliminated. 

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