Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a key component in many acid blends used across semiconductor, electronics, and precision manufacturing processes. Formulations like RCA and Piranha are highly effective at surface prep, but once they’re spent, the remaining peroxide becomes a major barrier to recovery, reuse, and safe disposal.
Instead of treating peroxide on-site, most facilities still default to hauling it away, even when the underlying solution is high-value acid. This approach is costly, risky, and completely misaligned with modern sustainability goals.
Why Hauling Peroxide-Contaminated Acid Is a Problem
When peroxide-based acid solutions reach the end of their useful life, the peroxide they contain begins to degrade, releasing oxygen gas and building pressure inside sealed drums or tanks.
A faulty pressure relief valve on a transport truck can turn a routine shipment into a hazardous incident, endangering drivers and bystanders.
Even if the acid is reusable, the presence of residual peroxide means the entire stream is often treated as hazardous waste and hauled off, turning a valuable asset into a disposal cost.
Peroxide Is the Barrier to Acid Recovery
Hydrogen peroxide is present from the beginning in many industrial acid blends. But when those solutions are spent, that remaining peroxide must be removed before:
- Reuse in upstream processes
- Recovery through regeneration systems
- Safe discharge or neutralization
- Metal extraction or polishing steps
In short: if peroxide is present, reuse isn’t possible, and recovery is blocked until it’s gone.
Common Destruction Methods Fall Short
🔹 Catalase Enzymes
Break peroxide down biologically, but:
- Unstable in acidic environments
- Inactivated by metals
- Expensive and difficult to scale
🔹 UV Light
Works in low-strength, clear solutions:
- Ineffective in strong acid or colored streams
- High energy demand
- Poor scalability for industrial volumes
🔹 Chemical Reduction (e.g., bisulfite)
Neutralizes peroxide through redox reactions:
- Adds salt and TDS
- Generates secondary waste
- Degrades acid quality
These approaches introduce more complexity and cost, or fail entirely in acidic, metal-laden streams.
Electrochemical Destruction: ARRO™ Enables Clean, On-Site Treatment
ElectraMet’s ARRO™ program — Asset Recovery for Reuse or Offtake, includes electrochemical peroxide destruction as a foundational step in enabling circular acid management.
The Gamma system within ARRO safely and efficiently eliminates hydrogen peroxide from acid-containing wastewater using low-voltage electrochemical reduction, with no added chemicals, no enzymes, and no degradation of the acid.
How It Works
- Spent acid containing peroxide flows through an electrochemical cell
- A controlled voltage reduces H₂O₂ to water and oxygen
- The acid remains chemically intact — ready for reuse, polishing, or recovery
Key Benefits
✅ Preserves acid purity
While peroxide is converted to water, the underlying acid remains free of metals, salts, or neutralizing agents — making it ideal for regeneration or reuse.
✅ Eliminates hauling risks
Peroxide is destroyed on-site, preventing pressure buildup and removing the need to transport hazardous materials.
✅ No added chemicals
Unlike bisulfite or other chemical reducers, the process introduces no new contaminants — enabling higher recovery value downstream.
✅ Handles real-world conditions
Effective across a wide range of acid concentrations and peroxide loads, including full-strength process chemistries and rinse tank residuals.
✅ Unlocks circular treatment through the ARRO™ program
A critical step in enabling acid reuse, metal recovery, and resource optimization across the facility.
Ideal Applications
- Semiconductor fabs: Treating spent RCA or Piranha solutions before acid recovery
- Advanced packaging / CMP: Removing peroxide prior to reclaim or polishing
Why It Matters
The challenge with peroxide isn’t just compliance — it’s circularity.
Residual peroxide prevents valuable acids from being reused, blocks metal recovery, and turns recyclable streams into hazardous waste.
The ARRO program provides a practical, scalable solution. By destroying peroxide cleanly and maintaining acid purity, facilities can transition from hauling to recovering, improving both environmental and economic performance.
ElectraMet Has Solutions for Peroxide Abatement
You don’t have to choose between profit, safety, and sustainability. With ARRO and the Gamma system, you can eliminate peroxide onsite, retain the value of your process acids, and support your move toward closed-loop operations.
Stop hauling. Start recovering. ElectraMet makes it possible. Contact us today to find out more.