Ferric chloride recycling

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Gareth Magennis wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm soon going to start messing around with designing circuits again, either
> with breadboard type things or making PCB's with UV sensitive boards and
> Ferric Chloride. I'm concerned about the toxicity of this evil looking
> stuff and how best to dispose of it and the dissolved copper.
>
> A good many years ago I made some PCB's and, trying to solve the disposal
> problem, discovered that if I put a bunch of nails of a certain type into
> the used Ferric Chloride solution, they would become coated in the dissolved
> copper, which I could then wash off with water, recovering the copper by
> letting the wash dry outside. The remaining ferric chloride looked pretty
> much like the virgin solution and I'm pretty sure etched boards again.
>
> Doing some Googling throws up the answer "you can't recycle Ferric
> Chloride". Well can you? And what was my experiment showing? And also,
> what about the UV developing solution - I believe it's a bleach, but can you
> just chuck it down the sink?

I didn't even know you could still get ferric chloride.

Last time I did some etching ( 20+ yrs ago ) I used a Hydrochloric Acid and
Hydrogen Peroxide mix. Much more benign chemicals to deal with

I heard that Ferric Chloride is a carcinogen btw.


Graham

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Pooh Bear <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:413DBFC1.28BA51EC@hotmail.com:

> Gareth Magennis wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm soon going to start messing around with designing circuits again,
>> either with breadboard type things or making PCB's with UV sensitive
>> boards and Ferric Chloride. I'm concerned about the toxicity of this
>> evil looking stuff and how best to dispose of it and the dissolved
>> copper.
>>
>> A good many years ago I made some PCB's and, trying to solve the
>> disposal problem, discovered that if I put a bunch of nails of a
>> certain type into the used Ferric Chloride solution, they would
>> become coated in the dissolved copper, which I could then wash off
>> with water, recovering the copper by letting the wash dry outside.
>> The remaining ferric chloride looked pretty much like the virgin
>> solution and I'm pretty sure etched boards again.
>>
>> Doing some Googling throws up the answer "you can't recycle Ferric
>> Chloride". Well can you? And what was my experiment showing? And
>> also, what about the UV developing solution - I believe it's a
>> bleach, but can you just chuck it down the sink?
>
> I didn't even know you could still get ferric chloride.
>
> Last time I did some etching ( 20+ yrs ago ) I used a Hydrochloric
> Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide mix. Much more benign chemicals to deal
> with
>
H2O2/HCl is satisfyingly fast (about a 30 second aperture between
underetched and overetched) but the gas it gives off while fizzing is a
bit of a worry - it ate the stainless steel fittings in my (former) etch
area - now only do it outside.
DIY etching may be messy, but when you want it TODAY, its hard to beat.
M

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"Mike Diack" <moby@kcbbs.gen.middleearth> wrote in message >>
> H2O2/HCl is satisfyingly fast (about a 30 second aperture between
> underetched and overetched) but the gas it gives off while fizzing is a
> bit of a worry - it ate the stainless steel fittings in my (former) etch
> area - now only do it outside.

I wonder what it does to outside !!!

;-)

geoff

Hi Gareth ,

What an interesting discovery ! An derivative of perpetual motion so to speak ! lol.

In any case ..........i dont know if you are from my area which is Melbourne , but it is good to see more people thinking from different perspectives to attain there goals .

Here is an article i found from our local council who are also achieving great things !
Hope it is usefull!!!

....and good luck !

Frankii :>

Free Chemical Collection Day Printer Friendly


MEDIA RELEASE, 2 May 2007

Darebin residents can clear their homes of unwanted chemicals at Sustainability Victoria’s free chemical collection day on Saturday 19 May at the Resource Recovery Centre in Reservoir.

Darebin Council representative to the Metropolitan Waste Management Group, Cr Chris Kelly, said this was an important opportunity to get rid of hazardous chemicals, as they are not accepted by regular rubbish or recycling services.

“Most of us have potentially hazardous chemicals, which are no longer in use, in our garages and under the kitchen and laundry sinks. Having these chemicals lying around is dangerous, particularly if they are not in their original containers,” Cr Kelly said.

Cr Kelly explained that Sustainability Victoria’s collection day would provide residents with an environmentally safe way to dispose of cleaning chemicals, photographic chemicals, brake fluids and poisonous household and garden products.

“This is an opportunity to ensure that these products will be treated and then recycled or disposed of safely instead of ending up dumped in our landfills, tipped onto our gardens, or poured down the drain where they can cause damage to waterways, vegetation, soil and to us.”

Cr Kelly also reminded residents that other potentially dangerous items such as batteries, paint, fluorescent lighting tubes, gas bottles and motor oil were accepted all year round at the Resource Recovery Centre’s Detox Your Home service.

“These materials are recycled, with paint used for fuel, oil for low grade diesel and all metals from batteries and paint cans recycled into new steel products,” said Cr Kelly.

“We strongly encourage everyone to use the recycling service available at the Resource Recovery Centre and particularly to take advantage of Sustainability Victoria’s free chemical collection day to detox your home.”

Darebin residents can clear their homes of unwanted chemicals at Sustainability Victoria’s free chemical collection day on Saturday 19 May at the Resource Recovery Centre in Reservoir.

Darebin Council representative to the Metropolitan Waste Management Group, Cr Chris Kelly, said this was an important opportunity to get rid of hazardous chemicals, as they are not accepted by regular rubbish or recycling services.

“Most of us have potentially hazardous chemicals, which are no longer in use, in our garages and under the kitchen and laundry sinks. Having these chemicals lying around is dangerous, particularly if they are not in their original containers,” Cr Kelly said.

Cr Kelly explained that Sustainability Victoria’s collection day would provide residents with an environmentally safe way to dispose of cleaning chemicals, photographic chemicals, brake fluids and poisonous household and garden products.

“This is an opportunity to ensure that these products will be treated and then recycled or disposed of safely instead of ending up dumped in our landfills, tipped onto our gardens, or poured down the drain where they can cause damage to waterways, vegetation, soil and to us.”

Cr Kelly also reminded residents that other potentially dangerous items such as batteries, paint, fluorescent lighting tubes, gas bottles and motor oil were accepted all year round at the Resource Recovery Centre’s Detox Your Home service.

“These materials are recycled, with paint used for fuel, oil for low grade diesel and all metals from batteries and paint cans recycled into new steel products,” said Cr Kelly.

“We strongly encourage everyone to use the recycling service available at the Resource Recovery Centre and particularly to take advantage of Sustainability Victoria’s free chemical collection day to detox your home.”

Detox Your Home safety tips and further information about chemical recycling and collection can be found on theDetox Your Home page or Chemical Collection Days 2007page on this website.

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