Purity ReSource Secures Funding for Sustainable Water Technology
Purity ReSource has successfully completed a seed funding round, raising $681,421 to support its mission of developing eco-friendly material recovery methods. This innovative startup focuses on cleaning the water used in semiconductor manufacturing, allowing for the recovery of chemicals and the reuse of water. If their technology proves effective, it could recycle thousands of gallons each year, especially crucial in one of the driest regions of the world.
Arizona State University was a key player in this funding round, providing a grant to help enhance the company’s technology and conduct field tests of its water purification and chemical extraction processes. The Arizona Commerce Authority also invested in the venture, although specific amounts have not been disclosed, and there may be additional investors involved.
Purity ReSource’s technology aims to recover isopropanol, commonly used in chip production. The company believes it can restore the compound to electronic-grade quality, achieving a purification rate of up to 1.06 gallons per minute. Their process also promises to minimize trace metals and moisture levels, ensuring high-quality results.
Besides recovering wastewater, Purity offers an Ampoule Cleaning Service designed to thoroughly clean various chemical containers utilized in high-purity semiconductor manufacturing. The firm emphasizes that their techniques are environmentally friendly, ensuring safe disposal of byproducts within a turnaround time of just three to four weeks.
According to Purity, the global chip industry consumed nearly 300,000 gallons of isopropanol in 2023, valued at approximately $338 million. They note that over 60% of electronic-grade isopropanol and all ultrahigh purity isopropanol is imported, mainly from China and South Korea. This dependency poses national security concerns, especially as the demand for chips is projected to increase by 26% globally and 96% in the U.S. by 2027.
The U.S. semiconductor industry is experiencing rapid growth, thanks in part to the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which prioritizes local production and provides incentives for domestic manufacturing, including the sourcing of required chemicals from within the country.
Arizona has emerged as a major hub for chip manufacturing, with companies like Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing establishing significant operations in the state. Purity ReSource claims that the large systems operating at these facilities can purify 2.64 gallons of contaminated water every minute, potentially recycling around 370,000 gallons annually. This process could also lead to a reduction in emissions equivalent to that of 300 gas-powered vehicles each year, along with estimated savings of up to 50% on total isopropanol costs.
