Copper analyser monitors electronics wastewater

Paul Boughton

Copper contamination of water sources from electronics manufacturing washing and rinsing operations is a serious concern. While copper is naturally in the soil, it poses major health risks when it enters the drinking water supply.

In the US, for example, the amount of copper that can be discharged by electronics manufacturers into public wastewater treatment systems is strictly regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must be monitored to ensure any effluent leaving the plant is safe. 

Now process and plant engineers responsible for treating wastewater from printed circuit board manufacturing, electronic components production and electronics plating operations will find the new Copper Analyzer System from Electro-Chemical Devices (ECD) provides a solution for electronics manufacturing wastewater treatment processes.

The system is designed with the new T80 Universal Transmitter and precision S80 Intelligent pION Sensor. Together, they provide measurement of copper for electronics industry manufacturing plant wastewater treatment.

ECD’s S80 pION Sensor for Copper combined with the T80 Transmitter is suited for monitoring industrial wastewater treatment operations. ECD’s S80 pION Sensor for Copper uses a cupric ion electrode cartridge that measures the activity of ‘free’ Copper ions in solution in concentrations from 1.0ppb to 6,300ppm. 

The S80 pION sensor operates over a wide temperature range of 0 to 80º C. The S80 Immersion or Insertion Sensor is designed with a 0.75-inch MNPT compression fitting as the process connection and allows a variable insertion length to accommodate installation in pipe tees, flow cells or through tank walls. The S80 Retractable Sensor is designed with a 1-inch MNPT ball valve, a 1-x-0.75 inch reducer and a 0.75 inch MNPT compression fitting to provide the process connection. 

In addition to copper measurement, ECD’s replaceable electrode cartridges for the S80 pION Sensor can also be selected to measure parameters including other specific ions, pH, ORP and dissolved oxygen. These cartridges provide specific industrial process measurement solutions, and they are constructed in a variety of configurations and materials to support diverse industries.