SHUIYI Membrane Technology showcased its cutting-edge PCB electroplating wastewater treatment innovations, mature membrane products for PCB electroplating pure water production and integrated wastewater treatment and water reuse solutions. SHUIYI deconstructed industry technical bottlenecks and shared real-world case studies on energy-saving and consumption reduction.
How Stringent Is PCB Electroplating Wastewater? Membrane Treatment Challenges and Solutions
The composition of electroplating wastewater is extremely complex. In addition to heavy metals, cyanide (CN), acids and alkalis, it also contains certain electroplating additives. These additives include components with strong complex agents, such as tartaric acid, EDTA, pyrophosphates, citric acid and ammonia. A single-stage treatment method cannot meet the water discharge or reuse requirements, so a multi-stage treatment process is required.
Typical Treatment Process for Pure Water Production from Electroplating Wastewater
PCB manufacturing imposes stringent requirements on pure water quality. It is recommended to adopt SHUIYI UF membranes with a two-pass Resalt series RO pre-desalination system, followed by EDI and a polishing mixed bed processes to consistently produce high-quality pure water.
Representative Case Studies
Location: Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
Treatment Capacity: 7,000 m³/d
Commissioning Date: 2023
Products Supplied: UF membrane + RO membrane systems
Project Description: The project employs an integrated treatment process comprising MCR + UF + First-pass RO + Concentrate RO. The process design is scientifically sound and rational, enabling cascaded utilization of water resources.
The project site is equipped with a variety of high-quality membrane products, with membrane modules including SMU-30/30.5A and SMU-18M made of PVDF, as well as XM-36A MBR membranes made of PTFE. Since system commissioning, the operation has been stable, with a measured operating flux of 18.16 LMH. All operating parameters have met the required standards, demonstrating excellent overall treatment performance.
Location: Chongqing, China
Treatment Capacity: 4,000 m³/d
Commissioning Date: 2025
Products Supplied: MBR membranes + UF membranes + RO membranes
Project Description:
This electroplating park is one of the major surface treatment industrial clusters in Southwest China, which accommodates a wide range of surface treatment enterprises. The plating types introduced include copper plating, nickel plating, chromium plating, gold plating, silver plating, etc., covering various processes such as electronics electroplating, plastic electroplating, hardware electroplating, anodizing, phosphating, spray painting, and electrophoretic coating.
SHUIYI is responsible for the discharge system and reuse system of chromium-containing wastewater and nickel-containing wastewater in this project.
Typical Process for Electroplating Wastewater Treatment and Water Reuse
PCB electroplating wastewater is characterized by complex composition, significant fluctuations in water quality and high concentrations of contaminants, making it difficult to treat.
SHUIYI recommends an integrated membrane treatment process combining MBR + UF + RO, utilizing either Resalt® Series RO membranes for reclaimed water reuse or Procycle® Series High-Pressure RO membranes. The produced water can meet discharge standards or be reused in production.
Representative Case Studies
Location: Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Treatment Capacity: 25,000 m³/d
Commissioning Date: 2024
Products Supplied: MBR membrane system
Project Description: This project is an electronics wastewater MBR treatment project implemented at a Foxconn industrial park in Zhengzhou, Henan. It is fully equipped with SMU 40AP membrane modules. The system was commissioned and put into operation in phases starting from October 2024, with full completion by February 2025. The system has been running stably, with an actual operating flux maintained at 15 LMH, delivering excellent wastewater treatment performance.
Location: Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
Treatment Capacity: 4,000 m³/d
Commissioning Date: 2025
Products Supplied: MBR membrane system
Project Description: This centralized wastewater treatment project for the electroplating park adopts SMU-40AP MBR membrane modules. This park features a high industrial agglomeration and is home to more than 110 surface treatment enterprises, generating large volumes of wastewater with complex quality conditions. Since commissioning, the entire water treatment system has operated reliably and consistently. The effluent has consistently met all discharge standards. The equipment has demonstrated stable operation and ease of maintenance, highlighting the excellent performance of this membrane module in electroplating wastewater treatment applications.
With 15 years of expertise in membrane technology, SHUIYI Membrane Technology continuously address the challenges of wastewater treatment in the electroplating and PCB industries through proven membrane processes and core products. By delivering one-stop water treatment solutions, SHUIYI helps enterprises achieve green operations, cost reduction and compliant production.
