Waste Streams from Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing
Waste Stream Waste Stream
Waste Source Description Composition
Cleaning/Surface preparation 1. Airborne particulates
2. Acid fumes/organic vapors
3. Spent acid/alkaline solution
4. Spent halogenated solvents
5. Waste rinse water
Catalyst application/
Electroless plating
1. Spent electroless copper bath
2. Spent catalyst solution
3. Spent acid solution
4. Waste rinse water
Pattern printing/masking 1. Spent developing solution
2. Spent resist removal solution
3. Spent acid solution
4. Waste rinse water
Electroplating 1. Spent plating bath
2. Waste rinse water
Etching 1. Spent etchant
2. Waste rinse water
Board materials,
sanding materials,
metals, fluoride,
acids, halogenated
solvents, alkali.
Acids, stannic
oxide, palladium,
complexed metals,
chelating agents.
Vinyl polymers,
chlorinated
hydrocarbons, organic
solvents, alkali.
Copper, nickel, tin,
tin/lead, gold,
fluoride, cyanide, sulfate.
Ammonia, chromium,
copper, iron, acids.