Chemical Etching and the Environment: How to Comply with Environmental Protection Regulations

As environmental protection policies have become more stringent, small and medium chemical etching companies have faced the challenge of how to meet regulations.The core of the company's environmental protection business is in the areas of wastewater and waste gas treatment, hazardous waste management, and low-cost compliance schemes.

Why has environmental compliance become a "must-answer question" for chemical etching firms?

In recent years, environmental inspection has become stricter, and a number of small and medium sized etching factories have been fined or shut down for dumping waste water or for failing to meet air pollution standards.In fact, environmental compliance is not a "choice question," but a "survival question.From the national to the local level, restrictions on the discharge of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are becoming increasingly clear. In particular, if the acid mist from etching fluids or the heavy metals in wastewater exceed permitted levels, a company can be forced to make immediate improvements or shut down production.

Where do SMEs fall short in terms of environmental protection?

The cost of waste water treatment is high.

The wastewater produced by the etching process contains heavy metal ions and acidic substances. Traditional treatment equipment costs hundreds of thousands of NT dollars, which is too much for small companies to bear.Some businesses have secretly diluted their emissions to save money, only to be caught red-handed.

The efficiency of the exhaust gas collection is low.

The acid fumes and organic gases found in etching workshops cannot be handled by standard exhaust fans.But specialized purifying equipment is expensive and takes up space, and many small factories simply make do.

There is no regulation of hazardous waste management.

The used etching solution and waste residue are classified as hazardous waste, which must be given to a qualified entity for treatment.But some companies simply dump their waste in a random fashion, even mixing it with household garbage, creating a very high risk.

A low-cost compliance solution.

Wastewater recycling technology.

Don't assume that a closed-loop system is too expensive! Today there are modular treatment systems on the market designed for low flow, such as ion exchange resin and neutralization tanks. A one-time investment of less than NT $ 100,000 can reduce wastewater discharge by 80 %.

Step-by-step treatment of exhaust gas.

First, the acid mist is neutralized in a simple alkali solution spray tower, then the VOCs are filtered in an activated charcoal adsorption tank.The cost of using the two systems together is less than half that of an integrated system, making it especially suitable for small plants with an annual output of less than NT $ 5 million.

The government is also considering the idea of "consolidating orders" for the disposal of hazardous waste.

We have been searching for a hazardous waste treatment company, but the price is too high.For example, five small factories could rent a single temporary storage tank for hazardous waste, and share the costs of transportation and disposal, saving tens of thousands of NT dollars a year.

Compliance Can Save You Money: 3 Tips.

1. Regular self-inspections: Purchase a portable pH meter and some heavy metal test paper, and test your wastewater once a week. If you find a problem, adjust your operations. That's a whole lot better than getting a fine.

2. Employee training must be practical: Teach workers how to operate equipment correctly, such as ensuring that waste liquid drums are sealed and labels are properly affixed.Don't underestimate the importance of these details. Many fines are levied for "low-level errors.

3. Don’t miss out on government subsidies: There are subsidies for environmental technology improvements in many locations. For example, in Jiangsu Province, the highest subsidy for VOC treatment projects is 30 %. Ask the local environmental protection bureau about subsidies; you may be able to recover some of your costs.

Environmental compliance is not a "money pit," but rather a "lightning rod.First, meet the basic requirements, then gradually improve your manufacturing processes. SMEs can still find a way to survive by meeting regulations.