Formaldehyde Emissions

Thread from IPC's ComplianceNet

From: GRINOLG@ROSV.ADVCIR.COM[SMTP:GRINOLG@ROSV.ADVCIR.COM]
Reply To: ComplianceNet E-Mail Forum.;GRINOLG@ROSV.ADVCIR.COM
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 1998 5:59 AM
To: johnsha@merix.merix.com
Subject: [CN] formaldehyde emissions

Hello Compliance Net:
Does anyone out there have emission factors (or experience developing them) for formaldehyde from an electroless copper plating operation? The line uses open top tanks with lip exhausts. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 13:04:44 -0800
Reply-To: "ComplianceNet E-Mail Forum." , "Sharp, John" johnsha@FGMAIL01.MERIX.COM
Sender: ComplianceNet Mail ForumComplianceNet@ipc.org
From: "Sharp, John"
Subject: FW: [CN] formaldehyde emissions

I source-tested our electroless bath exhausts about 3 years ago. I tested while the baths were online and offline. The reason for the two tests is that when we take our baths offline, we blow air through them to prevent plate-out. I found that the formaldehyde concentration was very low in both cases (~1 ppm offline, and ~2 ppm online). What this told me is:
* It's very difficult to strip formaldehyde out of an electroless bath. Other companies have verified this. I believe that Lee Wilmot of Hadco found a similar situation.
* The side reactions (Cannizaro, etc.) that go on in the electroless bath are major consumers of the formaldehyde. At least as much formaldehyde is consumed by these reactions as the plating reactions.

I hope this helps. Contact me with any further questions.

John Sharp
Merix Corp., Forest Grove, OR
503-992-4351 Telephone
503-359-1040 FAX
john.sharp@merix.com

Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 15:24:31 -0500
Reply-To: "ComplianceNet E-Mail Forum." , rperkins@SHIPLEY.COM
Sender: ComplianceNet Mail Forum
From: ""
Subject: Re: formaldehyde emissions
X-To: GRINOLG@ROSV.ADVCIR.COM
X-cc: gfisher@shipley.com
There have been a few papers written on this subject:

1.PCFAB Aug 1989 - Formaldehyde Consumption in Electroless Copper

2. "Atmospheric Releases of Formaldehyde in Electroless Copper Plating Operations" David Cooper, Roger Wayson, PJ Sutch, John Dietz, Doug Bauman Kathleen Cheze - University of Central Florida, Civil & Environmental Engineering Department , Orlando Florida This paper was jointly sponsored by EPA and AESF so it may be available through either organization.

We our a supplier of electroless copper, specifically Circuposit 3350, and based on our calculations, 63% of the formaldehyde is consumed (through reactions) to plate 100 millionths of copper.

Hopes this helps.

Rose Perkins
Env. Eng Manager