Waste Prevention

Soldering process that eliminates the use of wave oil and solvents by installing hoods over the solder pots to maintain an inert atmosphere over the molten solder. Conventionally, soldering involves synthetic oil, soldering fluxes, and solvent cleaning (uses large amounts of TCA and TCE). The No-Clean process eliminates the use of wave oil and soldering fluxes, consequently eliminating the need for solvent cleaning. This process reduces the environmental impact of manufacturing solid ceramic resistor networks by reducing the amount of raw materials consumed.

Higher quality quantum dots for LED screens that use much less toxic feedstock. This technology replaces the traditional centrifugation method with filtration and uses less toxic solvents. Conventional methods of producing LED screens make substantial use of toxic solvents and are inefficient. This new technology could potentially reduce the use of toxic solvents by 150,000 liters per year in the United States. This technology is also more efficient, reducing energy usage. 

Uses water and oxygen to remove photoresist and other organic contaminants in producing semiconductors and flat panel displays. Coldstrip™ uses a gas diffuser and an ozone generator. This process cleans more quickly than many chemical-based processes as it produces no solids in the water (eliminating the need for filtration) and does not require elevated temperatures. Traditionally, Piranha solutions (containing sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide) are used to produce semiconductors and flat panel displays.

Biocatalytic process for the synthesis of esters. Esters are important ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products. Traditional esters manufacturing requires strong acids and potentially hazardous solvents and produces undesirable byproducts that require energy-intensive purification. Using immobilized enzymes at mild temperatures as an alternative, Eastmen saves energy and avoids dangerous chemicals. This process produces no undesirable by-products, and the enzymes are easily removable via filtration.

Paper products made by using an enzyme to digest straw into pulp. The enzyme eliminates the need for harsh chemicals used in traditional pulping methods, reducing water and energy consumption. Mobious straw paper and molded pulp products are made from waste straw bought from local farmers in China, which reduces CO2 emissions as less straw is burned. 

Upcycled carbon black from end-of-life tires. Over 1.5 billion end-of-life tires enter the global waste stream annually. This process upcycles end-of-life tires to produce carbon black and tire pyrolytic oil and gas, reducing oil use and carbon dioxide emissions. These carbon blacks are a sustainable, one-to-one replacement for ASTM furnace carbon blacks. The process consists of 5 stages: steel removal, carbonization, de-agglomeration, pelletizing, and drying.

Continuous flow reactors and continuous flow chemicals plays for fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries. This process reduces the amount of solvent required by improving heat transfer. It also enables controlling conditions to maximize conversion without risking competitive or consecutive reactions. Using less solvent and fewer impurities also reduces waste and disposal costs. Using smaller continuous reactors reduces the energy required for heating and cooling. Continuous processes also operate at a steady state, simplifying management. 

Recovery of organic and inorganic chemicals from wastewater. Residual water is recycled through Anti-Solvent Crystallization (ASC), Chemical Dewatering (ChD), Reactive Extraction (Rx), or Eutectic Freeze Crystallization (EFC). This extraction process eliminates secondary and tertiary pollution and the need for a landfill. Recycling water also reduces the amount of freshwater needed for the process. These processes are more efficient than traditional evaporators and address corrosion.