Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Samsung to apply PFAS treatment technology at Pyeongtaek site in 2027
Samsung Electronics plans to use new PFAS treatment technology at its Pyeongtaek site in 2027.
The process separates PFAS from wastewater, concentrates it and treats it through an electrochemical reaction.
PFAS can persist in the environment for a long time, which has raised concerns after an environmental group reported detecting it in wastewater discharged near the site.
South Korea has no discharge limit for PFAS, and the article says its harmful effects have not been clearly established.
Pyeongtaek city plans to monitor water quality and has asked the national environment ministry to set limits for pollutants from semiconductor plants.
Samsung will assess the technology’s results before deciding whether to use it at other sites; it also expects to apply technology to reduce chloride and sulfate at Pyeongtaek as early as 2028.
Samsung Electronics plans to apply its PFAS treatment technology at its Pyeongtaek site in 2027.
The technology separates and concentrates PFAS in wastewater before treating it through an electrochemical reaction.
Samsung will assess the results of operating the technology before considering whether to expand it to other sites.
The plan follows concerns about PFAS detected in wastewater near the Pyeongtaek site.
Pyeongtaek City has asked the government to establish discharge limits for pollutants from semiconductor processes.
- Who
- Samsung Electronics.
- What
- It plans to use technology to reduce PFAS in wastewater at its Pyeongtaek site.
- When
- In 2027.
- Where
- Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek site, in South Korea.
- Why
- To reduce pollutants in wastewater; concerns were raised after PFAS was detected in wastewater near the site.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Samsung Electronics announced its New Environmental Management Strategy, including investment of more than 7 trillion won by 2030.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae issued administrative guidance to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to prepare measures to reduce chloride and sulfate concentrations in wastewater.
Yonhap reported that Samsung had developed PFAS-reduction technology and planned to apply it at Pyeongtaek the following year.
Samsung plans to apply the PFAS-reduction technology at its Pyeongtaek semiconductor processes.
- Planned application
- Pyeongtaek site, 2027
- Treatment method
- PFAS is separated and concentrated, then treated using an electrochemical reaction
- Other sites
- Expansion will be considered after operating results are analyzed
- Chloride and sulfate technology
- Samsung expects it could be applied at Pyeongtaek as early as 2028
- Environmental strategy
- More than 7 trillion won in investment by 2030, announced in 2022
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What people are saying
We have continued research on pollutant-reduction technologies even before PFAS and other substances without domestic standards became an environmental issue.
Following this concern raised by an environmental group, we urged the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to promptly establish discharge standards for pollutants that may arise from semiconductor processes.