Semiconductor chips, made primarily from silicon or germanium, are tiny electronic devices that form the basic building blocks of most electronic circuits. These chips power devices ranging from smartphones to computers and enable functionalities like GPS, smart cards, and data communications.1
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Innovative methods, such as open-loop recycling and integrated circuit reuse, have been developed to minimize environmental impact and optimize resource use. These advancements highlight the crucial role of recycling in sustaining the growth of the semiconductor industry and ensuring environmental protection.
Semiconductor Chips in Modern Technology
As semiconductor chips become more integral to modern technology, concerns over electronic waste (e-waste) grow due to the environmental and health risks posed by toxic materials.
Recycling e-waste, including semiconductors, is essential for mitigating these risks, offering sustainable solutions like refurbishment, reuse, and material recovery.2,3 However, recycling semiconductors presents unique challenges due to their complex composition, requiring innovative approaches in both design and infrastructure.4
The semiconductor industry is at a critical point where advancements in recycling technologies and increased eco-conscious consumer demand drive the need for sustainable practices and regulatory compliance. From stringent laws to eco-friendly manufacturing initiatives, the journey towards semiconductor circularity involves both environmental stewardship and technological innovation.5,6
Environmental Risks Posed by the Semiconductor Industry
The semiconductor industry has substantial environmental impacts throughout its lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal.7 Research highlights high energy consumption, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly with nanoscale integrated circuits that escalate resource usage.8
Hazardous chemicals employed in manufacturing pose health risks for workers, amplifying occupational safety concerns. Improper disposal further compounds these issues, as semiconductor chips in landfills can leach toxic substances into ecosystems, endangering both wildlife and human health.2
The complexity of semiconductor recycling compounds these challenges. Although strides are being made in sustainable manufacturing practices and recycling infrastructure, achieving circularity remains a significant task.9
Designing for recyclability and implementing efficient recycling methods are critical steps toward mitigating environmental impacts. Regulatory measures and consumer demand for eco-conscious products further compel semiconductor manufacturers to prioritize sustainability.5
Collaborative efforts between industry, academia, and policymakers are essential for fostering innovation and implementing sustainable practices.5 Through collective action, the semiconductor industry can minimize its ecological footprint while continuing to drive technological advancement.
Current Recycling Techniques
Current recycling techniques for semiconductor chips aim to maximize resource recovery while minimizing environmental impact. Methods such as direct ionic vaporization delicately reclaim semiconductor workpieces while preserving substrate purity and enabling the removal of unsuccessful conductive columns and layers.10,11
Techniques for recycling semiconductor packages on circuit boards involve polishing, solder ball removal, and the formation of new solder balls on a gold plating layer.12
Innovative recycling devices, such as those employing breaking treatments and detection mechanisms, efficiently separate semiconductors in products, streamlining the recycling process.4
Additionally, open-loop recycling, a process where materials are recycled into new products of lower quality, and integrated circuit reuse, which involves repurposing chips for other applications, offer promising avenues for maximizing resource utilization.13,14
Concurrent advancements in electronics design prioritize recyclability, with manufacturers increasingly incorporating sustainable materials and processes into semiconductor production.
Case studies like Samsung’s recycled semiconductor trays and Infineon’s greenhouse gas reduction plans underscore the industry’s commitment to sustainability. However, challenges persist, demanding ongoing research and investment to realize semiconductor circularity.15.16
As regulations tighten and consumer demand for eco-conscious products rises, the impetus for recycling innovation intensifies, positioning the semiconductor industry on the cusp of a greener future.
Innovations in Recycling Technology
Innovations in recycling technology within the semiconductor industry are critical for achieving sustainability and circular economy goals. Researchers have developed advanced recycling devices that efficiently separate semiconductors within products.4
Furthermore, the utilization of self-reducing briquettes derived from steel sludge in cupola furnace charge has been explored, emphasizing the vital role of minimizing CO2 emissions through recycling.17
In developing countries, innovative techniques for managing solid waste, including recycling and composting, promise significant breakthroughs in waste reduction and the creation of valuable products. These strides contribute to reducing waste volume and greenhouse gas emissions while offering new economic opportunities through sustainable recycling practices.
As consumer demand for eco-conscious products grows and global regulations on electronics sustainability tighten, semiconductor manufacturers must invest in research to drive recycling innovations forward.6
The rapid advancement in recycling technologies and electronics design, coupled with consumer demand and regulatory pressures, brings the goal of recycled semiconductors increasingly within reach.
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References and Further Reading
[1] Shuchen, H., et al. (2023) Assessing the contribution of semiconductors to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) from 2017 to 2022. Heliyon. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21306
[2] Xianglan, Z., et al. (2023) Emission and occupational health risk assessment of harmful contaminants in various processes in a typical semiconductor manufacturing industry building. Indoor and Built Environment. doi: 10.1177/1420326X231161807.
[3] Qi, W., et al. (2023) Environmental data and facts in the semiconductor manufacturing industry: An unexpected high water and energy consumption situation. Water Cycle. doi: 10.1016/j.watcyc.2023.01.004.
[4] Nazia, P., et al. (2020) Innovations in Recycling for Sustainable Management of Solid Wastes. Innovative Wate Management Technologies for Sustainable Development. doi: 10.4018/978-1-7998-0031-6.ch010.
[5] Mélanie, D., et al. (2021) Achieving Circular and Efficient Production Systems: Emerging Challenges from Industrial Cases. Advances in Production Management Systems. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-85910-7_55.
[6] José, A., et al. (2021) Recycling Technology Innovation as a Source of Competitive Advantage: The Sustainable and Circular Business Model of a Bicentennial Company. Sustainability. doi: 10.3390/su13147723.
[7] Sunbal, S., et al. (2019) History and Major Types of Pollutants in Electronic Waste Recycling. Electronic Waste Production. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-26615-8_1.
[8] Eleanor, M., et al. (2021) Green Nanofabrication Opportunities in the Semiconductor Industry: A Life Cycle Perspective. Nanomaterials. doi: 10.3390/nano11051085.
[9] Veena, S., et al. (2023) Rethinking circular economy for electronics, energy storage, and solar photovoltaics with long product life cycles. MRS Bull. doi: 10.1557/s43577-023-00519-2.
[10] Zheng, G., et al. (2021) Layer-Scale and Chip-Scale Transfer Techniques for Functional Devices and Systems: A Review. Nanomaterials. doi: 10.3390/nano11040842.
[11] Beers, A., et al. (2024) Reclamation and recycling of semiconductor workpieces. [Online] Justia. Available at: https://patents.justia.com/inventor/andrew-beers
[12] Bingbing, W. (2017) Review of solid state recycling of aluminum chips. Resour Conserv Recycl. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.06.004.
[13] Katrina, K., et al. (2023) Circular plastics technologies: open loop recycling of waste plastics into new chemicals. Physical Sciences Reviews. doi: 10.1515/psr-2022-0178.
[14] Kwame, N., et al. (2023) Building Trust in Microelectronics: A Comprehensive Review of Current Techniques and Adoption Challenges. Electronics. doi: 10.3390/electronics12224618.
[15] Samsung. (2024) Samsung Semiconductor: technologies for a sustainable future. [Online] Samsung. Available at: https://semiconductor.samsung.com/sustainability/environment/
[16] Infineon. (2024) Environmental sustainability and climate protection. [Online] Infineon. Available at: https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/about-infineon/sustainability/Environmental-Sustainability-and-Climate-Protection/gases/
[17] Silvie, B., et al. (2019) Innovated Technologies of Recycling of Metallic Wastes – Modification of Existing Industrial Processes. New Trends in Production Engineering. doi: 10.2478/ntpe-2019-0100.
