Copper sulfate (crystal)

A blue crystal solid, often wet with sulfuric acid and containing traces of other metals. Generated by a centrifuge or crystallizer used to recover spent peroxide-sulfuric micro-etch solution in a printed circuit shop. Also produced by copper and brass fabricators using peroxide-sulfuric based pickle solution or bright dip.

RQ UN3077 Environmentally Hazardous Substance Solid, 9, PG III

Note: Bulk shipments also require the words "marine pollutant"

Copper sulfate (solution)

(Micro-etch and Brass) - A blue solution containing sulfuric acid and traces of other metals. It is produced by circuit board micro-etchants (peroxide-sulfuric and sodium or ammonium persulfate based) or acid copper sulfate plating solution. Can also be a copper plating tank strip or a bright dip for copper or brass.

RQ UN3264, Corrosive Liquid, Acidic, Inorganic, N.O.S. (sulfuric acid, cupric sulfate), 8, PG II

Note: Bulk shipments also require the words "marine pollutant"

Copper (cupric) chloride solution

A green-black solution containing hydrochloric acid and containing traces of other metals. Used primarily to etch printed circuit boards but may also be generated by copper fabricators as a bright dip or pickle solution.

Oxford. Spent cupric chloride (Oxford process)
RQ UN2802, copper chloride solution, 8, PG II

Note: Bulk shipments also require the words "marine pollutant"

Chlorine. Spent cupric chloride (chlorine process)
RQ UN3264, corrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, n.o.s. (hydrochloric acid, copper chloride), 8, PG II

F006 Sludge
Spent copper hydroxide and/or nickel hydroxide

F006 with only nickel (and traces of other metals) will be bright green. F006 with only copper (and traces of other metals) will be bright blue or very black. This waste stream should be profiled on a case-by-case basis, since the metals analysis can be so variable. Generated by the waste water treatment system. At plants processing various metals, a segregated batch waste water treatment system is more likely to generate a sludge suitable for recycling.

RQ UN3077, environmentally hazardous substance, solid, N.O.S.
(Copper Hydroxide and/or nickel hydroxide), 9, PG III

Nitric Acid
Spent copper nitrate solution

A dark blue solution containing nitric acid and traces of other metals. At printed circuit shops the solution is used to strip plating racks. If the racks have only copper on them, the spent solution is more useful. Stripping racks that also have solder on them, along with copper, is less useful for recycling. Nitric acid with copper is also generated by copper fabricators doing bright dipping or pickling.

RQ UN3264, corrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, N.O.S. (copper nitrate, nitric acid), 8, PG II

Spent Solder (tin) stripper

A solution containing nitric acid or ammonium bifluoride and tin and lead. There are various formulas for solder (tin) strippers. The one Phibro-Tech is most interested in is the nitric acid product. The profile form must distinguish the type of stripper to be accepted.

RQ UN3264, waste corrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, N.O.S. (Contains nitric acid, and/or tin, tin-lead, and/or ammonium bifluoride and/or ferric nitrate), 8, PG II

Spent Alk-Cu-Strip® copper etchant

Dark blue solution with a strong ammonia odor, containing copper and traces of other metals. Alk-Cu-Strip is a Phibro-Tech proprietary product. Other chemical companies make similar ammonia-based copper etchants and strippers. Generated by aerospace and automotive companies and their subcontractor platers and heat treaters. Used to strip copper from heat treated parts (nitriding, carbo-nitriding, and carbarizing).

RQ UN3266, corrosive liquid, basic, inorganic, N.O.S., (copper tetraamine dichloride), 8, PG II

Spent Ferric chloride solution

A dark brown-green solution containing hydrochloric acid and various metals. Used as an etchant for copper, stainless steel and other metals. Only recycled at Phibro-Tech Santa Fe Springs, CA.

RQ UN 2582, waste ferric chloride solution, 8, PG III

Spent alkaline etchant

A dark blue solution with a strong ammonia odor, containing copper and traces of other metals. Spent alkaline etchant recycling is included in the sale of fresh etchant products.

RQ UN3266, corrosive, liquid, basic, inorganic, N.O.S., (copper tetraamine dichloride), 8, PG II

Miscellaneous inorganic acid or base

Wastes are treated and disposed of. Recycling only on a case-by-case basis.

Miscellaneous Inorganic Acid or Base (DOT descriptions will vary, depending on exact chemical composition)

Nickel plating solution and nitric acid strip

Nickel plating solution and nitric acid strip - a dark green solution. Nickel plating solution contains nickel sulfate and nickel chloride or nickel sulfamate. Any type of electrolytic nickel plating solution is acceptable. Nickel plating solution is generated primarily by plating shops and to a small extent by printed circuit shops. At electrolytic plating shops nitric acid is used to strip plating racks. The racks may have copper, nickel, and chromium on them or just nickel and chromium. In either case, the spent nitric acid is useful for recycling. Phibro-Tech has a proprietary recovery process for nitric acid containing copper and nickel. Nitric acid used to strip nickel from stainless steel or aluminum parts is also useful for recycling.

Spent Nitric Acid Rack Strip
RQ UN3264, Corrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, N.O.S., (Nitric Acid, Nickel and/or Copper Nitrate), 8, PG II

Spent nickel chloride and/or nickel sulfate solutions

RQ UN3082, environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, N.O.S., (nickel chloride and/or nickel sulfate solution), 9, PG III