No abstract

Geogenic metal contaminations in soils are intensely discussed in waste management, as the recyclability of excavated soil is regulated by limit values for pseudo-total contents in Austria. However, the use of pseudo-total contents overestimates the release of some contaminants such as metals into the environment. Sequential extraction provides an empiric tool to better assess the mobility of metals and predicts their bonding type in individual fractions, but the relation between the obtained fractions and the exact mineralogical bonding is often unclear. Electron microprobe analyses provide detailed mineralogical insights, but do not yield direct information about the mobility of elements. A combination of both methods has been used a few times in soil sciences in general, but never to Styrian soils. Thus, six geogenic contaminated Styrian soils and one compost soil were investigated by a method combination of sequential chemical extraction and electron microprobe analyses. Sequential extraction suggested that Cr in five substrates and As and Ni in one substrate each are bound in stable crystalline minerals, whereas Pb in four samples and Cu in two samples are adsorbed to iron and manganese hydroxides. Elemental mappings obtained by electron microprobe analyses confirmed sequential chemical extraction results and specified that Cu and Pb are bound to manganese (hydr)oxides, As to Fe-Cu-Sb-S compounds, Cr to spinels and Ni to olivine. In summary, the current study gives new information about the mobility and mineralogy of metals in six Styrian soils which is relevant for their possible recycling despite exceeded limit values for pseudo-total content.

In recent years the end-of-life (EOL) management of photovoltaic (PV) panels has started to attract more attention. By including PV panels in the WEEE Directive in 2012 the European Union has introduced a concrete legislative framework regarding EOL for this sector. Several research investigations into specialized PV recycling processes have been conducted over the last years, although very few of the findings have been implemented on a commercial level up to now. Nowadays, recycling usually still takes place in general recycling plants for flat glass or waste electronics. In this work, the current situation regarding EOL management of PV panels in Austria is analysed by literature research and interviews with stakeholders relevant to the EOL of PV panels. The legislative framework (including national peculiarities) and its influence on current procedures regarding collection and subsequent treatment is shown. Furthermore, current recycling processes are described and a country specific prognosis model is created to assess the future development of waste quantities. Results show that the amount of PV panel waste arising in Austria at the moment is very small and therefore no dedicated recycling takes place. However, quantities will considerably rise in the upcoming years and will act as the main driving force for the implementation of an improved EOL management system including specialised recovery processes.

No abstract

No abstract