Summer 1989
Recovery of Copper and Etching Chemicals When Alkaline Etching Printed Circuit Boards and Copper Sheets Introduction
The etching industry is today faced with many problems,
among others with requirements for higher quality, higher
precision and better yields. In addition to this, there is growing
concern about environmental impacts of industrial activities in
general.
New requirements and regulations from the authorities focus
on the risks involved in the transportation of dangerous chemicals
and the legal responsibilities related to the recycling or burial of
hazardous wastes. Thus, a very strong need for on-site, closed
loop recovery processes has developed in the last years.
In this paper Iwould like to concentrate on a closed loop copper
recovery and etchant regeneration process for alkaline etchants,
the so-called MECER process. MECER stands for Multi Electronic
Copper Etchant Recovery, a process developed by Sigma
Innovation AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
