Keeping Arizona’s Semiconductor Industry Sustainable

In the United States, there is a significant annual disposal of more than a million tons of chemical waste, primarily in landfills or through incineration. The increasing demand for microchips, which has tripled in the last decade, exacerbates this issue. As a result, there’s a growing concern about both the environmental impact and the scarcity of chemicals required for chip manufacturing. One local Arizona company, Purity ReSource, addresses this challenge by advancing purification and separation technologies for chemical recovery, reprocessing and reuse.

Why is this relevant for Arizonans? Well, semiconductor production involves various stages, such as deposition, resist coating, light exposure, etching, resist removal and rinsing, all generating substantial amounts of acid waste. Additionally, many of the chemicals used in these processes are classified as human carcinogens, posing potential health risks if not managed properly. Now that Arizona has emerged as a prominent semiconductor manufacturing hub, with major companies like TSMC and Intel Corporation significantly expanding their presence here, the state is considered the fifth-fastest-growing semiconductor Super Hub in the United States, according to the Financial Times. Consequently, this growth corresponds to an increase in hazardous waste disposal. However, it’s worth noting that the semiconductor industry increasingly prioritizes sustainability due to the multitude of high-purity organic and inorganic compounds involved in chip manufacturing.

Daniel Alvarez, Ph.D., a chemist and the CEO of Purity ReSource, is a seasoned veteran with 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. While working as the chief technology officer of Rasirc, Inc., he became acutely aware of the environmental issues surrounding the semiconductor industry. His decision to leave Rasirc, Inc. was part of his desire to become part of the solution to chemical waste generated in the industry, which prompted him to open Purity ReSource in August 2021. Since then, Dr. Alvarez has been committed to developing innovative circular technologies that promote and integrate sustainable practices into high-tech device manufacturing.

Purity ReSource empowers chip manufacturers to reuse materials multiple times, minimizing the need for neutralization, transportation and disposal resources. For instance, one of its recycling systems focuses on Isopropanol (IPA), a commonly used solvent in chemical manufacturing. The equipment recycles byproducts onsite for reuse, diverting spent isopropanol from drain to purification and back to process in an efficient, reliable, and circular system. This system has a minimal footprint and is designed to be co-located within the manufacturing apparatus. It upcycles ultra-high purity isopropanol that meets the stringent standards required for the semiconductor industry. In a closed loop, the sustainable supply of chemicals flows, ensuring only genuine waste flows to the drain. 

By using advanced separation and purification technologies to upcycle spent solvents to semiconductor-grade standards for reuse in the same applications, Purity ReSource provides manufacturers with a cost-effective solution by ensuring it spends less on hazardous waste removal and can reduce its dependence on chemical supply chains.

Purity ReSource’s Isopropanol Recycling System dramatically reduces waste and costs in semiconductor manufacturing. The equipment recycles byproducts onsite for reuse, diverting spent isopropanol from drain to purification and back to process in an efficient, reliable, and circular system. This system has a minimal footprint and is designed to be co-located within the manufacturing apparatus. 

Ultimately, these services provide semiconductor companies with cost savings in chemical acquisition, establish sustainable and reliable in-house supplies, significantly reduce hazardous disposal by up to 90%, and reduce chemical costs by up to 30 to 40% (by eliminating transportation and having onsite disposal).

Not only do these recycling technologies enable companies to save money, but they also allow them to take proactive steps toward sustainability while providing peace of mind to the community. This approach brings a fresh perspective to the concept of “Renew, Reuse, Recycle.”  

Bringing a wealth of experience to his position, Purity ReSource CEO Daniel Alvarez, Ph.D.,

• Holds more than 30 patents and has published more than 50 technical and scientific reports.
• Earned his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Indiana University and served as a James Irvine fellow at the California Institute of Technology.
• Is driving sustainable practices to reduce millions of tons of waste materials in the semiconductor industry.
• Was named one of nine finalists in the 2023 Startups for Sustainable Semiconductors pitch competition by SEMI.
• Built an aggressive business model and go-to-market strategy, projecting $3.2 million revenue by 2024.
• Generated more than $2 million in revenue after inventing three new chemistry-based products.
• Achieved “Process of Record” for two new chemistry products, serving as the key innovator and director of sales.

Photo courtesy of Purity ReSource