Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1517668
MARCH 2024 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 13 To solve this, whenever we design a system, we take all the different chemistries in a PCB shop, parametrize them through Aspen+, and simulate the situation of having everything go to the wrong place. en, we develop meth- ods to address those things when they hap- pen based on the client's local chemical man- agement infrastructure. If something incor- rect occurs, the system automatically isolates the non-conformance for separate treatment and/or goes multi-pass based on the prescrip- tion interpolated from the analytics. Workers aren't even involved, except to know that there was an error in manufacturing that needs cor- rection and a fault alarm explaining the likely source of the error. But we can't use the tra- ditional methods of reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins to accomplish this alone. It requires different methods of concentration, and many more sensors, which I'm bringing to the market now. e advanced sensor array also gives you feedback on manufacturing pro- cess efficiency to tell you whether you are wast- ing chemistry or not (think SPC of waste as an extra process control monitor) even if there is not a major non-conformance occurring. Companies can set their own alarm thresholds. Matties: The risk with ZLD is that if there is a problem with your system, there is a greater chance that it can shut down production than if you just use fresh water due to increased error risk from the higher complexity. Yes, and that is a bad situation. is challenge certainly has slowed global implementation. It's been particularly hurtful in India, where a strict ZLD regulation kicked in on Dec. 31, 2023. Everyone must now be compliant. It increases their cost and makes it much more difficult to invest in India, creating the situa- tion where there are 37 facilities being built in Southeast Asia and only a few in India (though there are other hurdles there vs. ASEAN, par- ticularly regarding PRC). Relevant to this situation, this new system design addresses the three big issues with zero liquid discharge to reduce the risk to a very low level. We were able to reduce the boiling by 95%. I also came up with a new physical method to destroy the organics that is cheaper, more efficient, and delivers non-detectable TOC levels. e third big issue is human error, like when things get dumped in the wrong place or a solenoid gets programmed incorrectly, etc.