PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE: WASTEWATER pH CONTROL IN THE FAST-PACED SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY

Company XYZ is rapidly growing which creates problems for the individual building managers, especially where utilities are concerned. One of those utilities is wastewater treatment. Space for expansion of existing facilities is limited, so creative solutions are required for wastewater treatment, UPW water production, and other utilities. However, since Company XYZ is expanding, there is a unique opportunity for the company to assess the performance of existing wastewater treatment systems and to develop a “second generation” design for pH control. The lessons learned in the past will produce a better design for the new facilities. The difficult part of the facility planning process is trying to predict what the future will bring. The approach taken on this project is to make the new facilities as flexible as possible to accommodate future chemical formulations and variable production patterns. Company XYZ is currently planning for and designing seven new pH control facilities. The first two facilities are scheduled to begin operation in mid-September. This paper presents some of the basic chemistry principles involved in the design of neutralization facilities and the critical design parameters for mixing, chemical delivery systems and sizing of pH control tanks.